What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has the most people working from home (9%).

Stockbridge has the most affordable homes ($139k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Java	Stockbridge
People
Population	2,049Highest	1,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	41.6±3.8Lowest 5% above NY
	Java and Stockbridge 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%	22.1%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Stockbridge 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%	16%±2.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Stockbridge 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%	16.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.8%±1.7Highest NY: 7%
	Stockbridge 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	$76,154±$12kLowest 11% below NY
	Java and Stockbridge 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	$139,400±$15kLowest 67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$1,042±$88Highest 36% below NY
	Stockbridge and Java 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	$2,951Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	35.6%±22.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Stockbridge 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%	9.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	26 minLowest 22% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	5%±2Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Stockbridge 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.