Compare towns
Mentz vs Java vs Falconer vs Brasher
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mentz has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Falconer has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Mentz | Java | Falconer | Brasher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,753Lowest |
2,049 |
2,149 |
2,592Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.5±5.5 9% above NY |
46.6±9Highest 17% above NY |
| Brasher and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.4%±6.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Falconer and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
14.6%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
15.6% NY: 40.2% |
10.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.4 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.7%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Brasher and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$60,056±$6k 30% below NY |
$53,911±$14k 37% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $115,500±$31k 73% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$98,400±$15kLowest 77% below NY |
$124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$745±$192 54% below NY |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
| Mentz and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,901 56% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,369Lowest 64% below NY |
$2,500 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±24.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49.6%±13.1 NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Mentz are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.9% NY: 14% |
22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.3%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Falconer 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 | — | — | — | #300 of 484 in NY |
| School district | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.