Compare towns
Wales vs Java vs Kendall vs Aurora
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Kendall has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Aurora has the most people working from home (21.5%).
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 | Wales | Java | Kendall | Aurora |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,015 |
2,049Lowest |
2,591 |
13,882Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
+1.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±6.6 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.1±6.6Lowest about the NY average |
51.6±3.2Highest 30% above NY |
| Aurora and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±2.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Kendall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.7%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Aurora and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
51.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Aurora and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$87,734±$14kLowest about the NY average |
$102,065±$9kHighest 19% above NY |
| Aurora and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,800±$33k 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$191,200±$28kLowest 55% below NY |
$364,800±$20kHighest 14% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$503 41% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$850±$314Lowest 48% below NY |
$1,116±$175Highest 31% below NY |
| Aurora and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,782 27% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,328 34% below NY |
$6,759Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
51.5%±36.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
39.4%±12.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Kendall and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
6.9%Highest NY: 14% |
3%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.5% NY: 54.3% |
84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.1%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
21.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #321 of 484 in NY | — | #46 of 484 in NY | #78 of 484 in NY |
| School district | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | KENDALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | EAST AURORA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | KENDALL JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | EAST AURORA HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| 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.