What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterville has the most people working from home (14.8%).

Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).

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	Waterville	Java
People
Population	1,731Lowest	2,049Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,273±$13kLowest 4% below NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,100±$12kLowest 60% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$820±$132Lowest 49% below NY	$863±$419Highest 47% below NY
	Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,425Lowest 48% below NY	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 34% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Waterville and Java 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.