What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strykersville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

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	Strykersville	Java
People
Population	665Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.9±22.5Lowest about the NY average	44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY
	Java and Strykersville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Strykersville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.6%±7.3Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Strykersville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.4Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and Strykersville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,615±$21kLowest 13% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Strykersville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,700±$39kLowest 56% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
	Java and Strykersville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$858±$65Lowest 47% below NY	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY
	Java and Strykersville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,753Lowest 58% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.1%±33.4Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Strykersville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 2 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 23% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	1.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
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.