Compare towns
Java vs Somerset vs Harmony
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).
Somerset has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k 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 | Somerset | Harmony |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
3,060Highest |
2,344 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
45.2±1.5Highest 14% above NY |
41.8±7Lowest 5% above NY |
| Somerset 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% |
23.2%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Somerset and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Somerset 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
19.1% NY: 40.2% |
17.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
| Somerset 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 |
$69,167±$14k 20% below NY |
$58,600±$11kLowest 32% below NY |
| Java and Somerset 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 |
$167,200±$25k 61% below NY |
$128,300±$15kLowest 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$769±$259Lowest 53% below NY |
$788±$40 51% below NY |
| Java and Harmony 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 |
$3,304 50% below NY |
$2,805Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.9%±17.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
43%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Somerset and Harmony 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% |
12.8%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
85.6% NY: 54.3% |
84.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.1%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Somerset 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 | — | #73 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
| 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.