What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marion has the most affordable homes ($180k 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	Marion
People
Population	2,049Lowest	4,523Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY	47.9±4.2Highest 20% above NY
	Marion and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	16.4%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Marion 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%	19.1%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Marion 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%±2.1Highest NY: 7%
	Marion 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	$80,469±$12kLowest 6% below NY
	Java and Marion 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	$180,300±$27kLowest 57% below NY
	Java and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY	$639±$394Lowest 61% below NY
	Java and Marion 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	$4,580Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	44%±16.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Marion 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%	5.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	25 minLowest 25% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	5.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Marion 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	—	#194 of 484 in NY
School district	—	MARION CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	MARION JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.6
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.