What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has the most people working from home (9%).

Carthage has the most renters (56.6% rent).

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	Carthage
People
Population	2,049Lowest	3,510Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-13.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	27.3±5.6Lowest 31% below NY
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	31.5%±6.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Carthage 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%	10.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	4.7%±3.8Highest NY: 7%
	Carthage 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	$58,125±$9kLowest 32% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY	$131,200±$22kLowest 69% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$913±$91Highest 44% below NY
	Carthage 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	$2,943Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	37.6%±13Highest NY: 52.1%
	Carthage 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%	25.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	43.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	28 minHighest 15% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	2%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.