What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).

Seward has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Seward
People
Population	2,049Lowest	2,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average
	Java and Seward 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%	27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
	Seward 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%	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Seward 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%	27.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Seward 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	$86,786±$20kLowest about the NY average
	Java and Seward 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	$198,500±$25kLowest 53% below NY
	Java and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY
	Seward 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	$3,855Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Seward 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%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seward 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.