What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Nelliston has the most affordable homes ($74k 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	Nelliston
People
Population	2,049Highest	707Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY	60.6±11.9Highest 52% above NY
	Nelliston 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%	12.9%±7.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Nelliston 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%	31.1%±7.9Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	18%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Java and Nelliston 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	$39,219±$29kLowest 54% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY	$74,200±$26kLowest 82% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY	$628±$18Lowest 61% below NY
	Java and Nelliston 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	$2,400Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	80%±51.1Highest NY: 52.1%
	Nelliston 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%	26.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	68.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	25 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.6%±9.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Nelliston 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.