Compare towns
Independence vs Java vs Sardinia vs Burns
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 most renters (16.9% rent).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
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 | Burns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 756Lowest |
2,049 |
2,703Highest |
888 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
42.5±7.5 7% above NY |
43.9±7.1 10% above NY |
| Java and Burns 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% |
21.2%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Independence 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% |
26.4%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Burns 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% |
17% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
5%±2.9 NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$64,491±$6kLowest 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±$27kLowest 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$100,800±$18kLowest 76% 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±$419 47% below NY |
$855±$83 47% below NY |
$942±$139Highest 42% below NY |
| Burns and Java 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 |
$2,783 58% 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% |
37.9%±48.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Burns 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% |
11.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
87.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 16% 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% |
3%±2.1 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 | None yet | None yet |
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.