Compare towns
Java vs Gaines vs Brasher vs Sardinia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Sardinia has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Java | Gaines | Brasher | Sardinia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,592 |
2,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
46.6±9Highest 17% above NY |
42.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NY |
| Brasher and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines and Brasher 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% |
14.4% NY: 40.2% |
10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
5%±2.9 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Sardinia 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 |
$56,582±$8k 34% below NY |
$53,911±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
| Java and Sardinia 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 |
$125,800±$19k 70% below NY |
$124,300±$24kLowest 71% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% 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 | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$922±$72Highest 43% below NY |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$855±$83 47% below NY |
| Gaines 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 |
$3,157 52% below NY |
$2,500 62% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.4% NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines and Sardinia 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 | — | — | #300 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.