What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Phelps has the most people working from home (13%).

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	Phelps
People
Population	2,049Lowest	6,624Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY	44.4±4.8Highest 12% above NY
	Phelps and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.6%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Phelps 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%	23.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Phelps and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	25.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Phelps 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	$80,262±$13kLowest 7% below NY
	Java and Phelps 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	$166,300±$10kLowest 61% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$1,124±$95Highest 31% below NY
	Phelps 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	$3,932Highest 40% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	43.7%±14.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Phelps 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%	10.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1953Lowest 6 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Phelps 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	—	#197 of 484 in NY
School district	—	PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	MIDLAKES MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.4
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.