Compare towns
Java vs Tompkins vs Black Brook
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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Black Brook has the most renters (11.9% rent).
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 | Tompkins | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Highest |
1,187Lowest |
1,315 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
56.5±5.8 42% above NY |
| Tompkins and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
10.6%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
30.6%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
36%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Black Brook and Tompkins 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% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2 NY: 7% |
4.9%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Black Brook and Tompkins 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 |
$67,852±$20k 21% below NY |
| Java and Black Brook 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 |
$202,200±$48k 52% below NY |
| Java and Black Brook 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 |
$783±$461 52% below NY |
| Java and Black Brook 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 |
$3,633 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
46.9%±32Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Black Brook 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% |
8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.1% NY: 54.3% |
88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
32 min 3% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest 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 | 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.