What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).

Barker has the most affordable homes ($129k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Java	Barker
People
Population	2,049Lowest	2,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	40.2±11.7Lowest about the NY average
	Java and Barker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.3%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Barker and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%	18.7%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Barker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	12%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.5%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Barker and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY	$64,348±$10kLowest 25% below NY
	Java and Barker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY	$128,600±$29kLowest 70% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY	$831±$125Lowest 49% below NY
	Java and Barker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,775Highest 43% below NY	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	33.3%±62.5Highest NY: 52.1%
	Barker and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%	20.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	94.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	7.8%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Barker 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

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.