Compare towns
Independence vs Java vs Sardinia vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Independence has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($78k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Independence | Java | Sardinia | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 756Lowest |
2,049 |
2,703Highest |
1,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
42.5±7.5 7% above NY |
45.3±6.8Highest 14% above NY |
| Andover and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
22%±2.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Andover and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.7% NY: 40.2% |
22.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9 NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 NY: 7% |
| Independence and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$15k 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
$64,688±$11kLowest 25% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,800±$27k 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$78,200±$6kLowest 82% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $609±$84Lowest 62% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$855±$83 47% below NY |
$778±$61 52% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606 60% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$2,839 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±29.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
23.5%±17.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Andover and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
77.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.1%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Sardinia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 8 photos → |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.