What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has the highest household income ($95k).

Groton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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	Groton
People
Population	2,049Lowest	5,612Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	43±7.9Lowest 8% above NY
	Java and Groton 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%	23.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Groton 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%	19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Groton 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%	21.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4 NY: 7%	3%±1.6 NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY	$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY
	Java and Groton 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	$163,900±$9kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY
	Groton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,775Lowest 43% below NY	$3,955Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Groton 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%	9.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	75%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	21 minLowest 35% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9%
	Groton 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	—	#322 of 484 in NY
School district	—	DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
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.