What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

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	Tompkins
People
Population	2,049Highest	1,187Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY	57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Tompkins 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	$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY
	Java and Tompkins 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	$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY
	Java and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY	$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY
	Java and Tompkins 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	$2,487Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Java and Tompkins 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%	8.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	70 minHighest 115% above NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Tompkins 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.