What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Monroe has the most affordable homes ($185k median).

Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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	West Monroe	Java
People
Population	4,060Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	46.3±4.6Highest 16% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	West Monroe and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Java and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Java and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%	3%±2.4Highest NY: 7%
	Java and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,558±$11kLowest 5% above NY	$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY
	Java and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,100±$19kLowest 56% below NY	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY
	Java and West Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,051±$342Highest 35% below NY	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY
	West Monroe and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,333Highest 34% below NY	$3,775Lowest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.1%±13.1Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	West Monroe and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 22% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	8.1%±3.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Java and West Monroe 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.