Compare towns
Java vs Starkey vs Union Vale vs Russia
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Starkey has the most affordable homes ($146k median).
Union Vale has the most expensive homes ($491k 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 | Starkey | Union Vale | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
3,381 |
4,567Highest |
2,272 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6% NY: +4.2% |
-6.5% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
41.3±2.5 4% above NY |
40.7±4.4Lowest about the NY average |
43.9±2.9 10% above NY |
| Java and Russia 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% |
22.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
26%±7.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Union Vale and Starkey 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% |
12.7%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
16.2%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Russia 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% NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
28.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Union Vale and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$55,064±$7kLowest 36% below NY |
$102,888±$22kHighest 20% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
| Union Vale and Java 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 |
$145,700±$17kLowest 66% below NY |
$490,900±$45kHighest 16% above NY |
$232,200±$44k 45% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$744±$96Lowest 54% below NY |
$2,167±$2kHighest 34% above NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
| Union Vale and Russia 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 |
$3,412 48% below NY |
$9,469Highest 44% above NY |
$2,939Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.6 NY: 52.1% |
52.1%±20.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Union Vale and Starkey 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% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
7.7% NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
73.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.8% NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
26 minLowest 20% below NY |
40 minHighest 24% above NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
14.9%±8.5 NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±5.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Union Vale and Starkey 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 | — | #358 of 484 in NY | #89 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | ARLINGTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.