What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Edmeston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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	Edmeston
People
Population	2,049Lowest	2,130Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	35.4±1.6Lowest 11% below NY
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	25.3%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Edmeston 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%	17.2%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Edmeston 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%	20%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Edmeston 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	$67,639±$12kLowest 21% below NY
	Java and Edmeston 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	$147,400±$14kLowest 65% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$988±$295Highest 39% below NY
	Edmeston 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	$2,019Lowest 69% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	35.3%±21.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Edmeston 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%	25.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	78.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	25 minLowest 24% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.4%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Edmeston 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

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.