Compare towns
Java vs Nelson vs Clifton
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($111k 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.
| Measure | Java | Nelson | Clifton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Highest |
1,765 |
768Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.5% NY: +4.2% |
-10.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
47.2±6.2Highest 19% above NY |
46.9±3.2 18% above NY |
| Nelson and Clifton 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% |
20.1%±8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Clifton 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% |
19.7%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.5%±2.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Clifton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
46.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
0.5%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Nelson 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 |
$82,063±$18k 5% below NY |
$47,228±$10kLowest 45% below NY |
| Java and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$230,000±$18kHighest 46% below NY |
$111,200±$12kLowest 74% below NY |
| Nelson and Java 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 |
$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY |
$806±$211 50% below NY |
| Java and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$3,990Highest 39% below NY |
$2,378Lowest 64% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
22.2%±40.6 NY: 52.1% |
28.9%±43.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Clifton and Nelson 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% |
7.8% NY: 14% |
14.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.3% NY: 54.3% |
77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
29 min 13% below NY |
34 minHighest 3% above NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.9%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Nelson and Clifton 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 | 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.