What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).

Wayland has the most affordable homes ($100k 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	Wayland
People
Population	2,049Highest	2,007Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY	36.5±4.7Lowest 8% below NY
	Java and Wayland 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%	31.5%±6.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Wayland 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%	13.2%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	15.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%	1.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7%
	Java and Wayland 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	$74,688±$18kLowest 13% below NY
	Java and Wayland 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	$99,500±$12kLowest 77% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY	$808±$159Lowest 50% below NY
	Java and Wayland 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	$2,938Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	57.4%±20.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wayland 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%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	77.2%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	30 minHighest 10% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	5.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Wayland 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	—	#390 of 484 in NY
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.