What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).

Varick has the most kids (30.3% under 18).

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	Varick
People
Population	2,049Highest	1,724Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	33.1±3.6Lowest 17% below NY
Kids under 18	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.3%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%	18.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Java and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	33.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7%
	Java and Varick 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	$80,250±$8kLowest 7% below NY
	Java and Varick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY	$267,200±$41kHighest 37% below NY
	Varick and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$1,279±$88Highest 21% below NY
	Varick and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,775Lowest 43% below NY	$4,604Highest 30% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	29.6%±36.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Varick 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%	17.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	83%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	23 minLowest 29% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.7%±7.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Varick 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.