What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lapeer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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

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	Lapeer	Java
People
Population	718Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.8±10.2Highest 20% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Lapeer and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lapeer and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±9.1Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lapeer and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,955±$14kLowest 27% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,600±$48kLowest 62% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
	Java and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$435Highest 39% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	Lapeer and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,109Lowest 53% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±32.8Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lapeer and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 min 17% below NY	27 min 17% below NY
Work from home	2.3%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Lapeer 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.