What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Independence has the most affordable homes ($101k 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	Independence
People
Population	2,049Highest	756Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY
	Java and Independence 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%	21.2%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Independence 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%	18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Independence 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%	12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%
	Independence 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	$68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY
	Java and Independence 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	$100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY	$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY
	Java and Independence 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	$2,606Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	20%±29.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Independence 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%	6.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	29 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	1.3%±1.5Lowest 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.