Compare towns
Wayne vs Java vs Johnstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Johnstown has the most renters (39.7% rent).
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 | Wayne | Java | Johnstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,033Lowest |
2,049 |
8,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44±4.8Lowest 11% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.3%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Johnstown and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$63,763±$9kLowest 26% below NY |
| Java and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$157,800±$11kLowest 63% below NY |
| Wayne and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$914±$43 44% below NY |
| Wayne and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,613Lowest 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.2%±12Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Johnstown and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
95.2% NY: 54.3% |
60.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Wayne and Java 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 | — | — | #403 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | JOHNSTOWN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | JOHNSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.