What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).

Binghamton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

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	Binghamton
People
Population	2,049Lowest	47,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+1.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	35.9±1.6Lowest 10% below NY
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Binghamton 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%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	30.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	13.3%±2Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY	$45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY	$124,800±$7kLowest 71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$870±$38Highest 46% below NY
	Binghamton and Java 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	$3,622Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	51.4%±3.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Binghamton 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%	32.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	44%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	19 minLowest 42% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.3%±2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Binghamton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#426 of 484 in NY
School district	—	BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.3
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.