Compare towns
Afton vs Altona vs Java
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Altona has the youngest population (median age 40).
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.
| Measure | Afton | Altona | Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,733Highest |
2,490 |
2,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY |
40±5Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
| Afton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.6%±5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Afton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.6% NY: 40.2% |
6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 NY: 7% |
0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
| Java and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,736±$13k 40% below NY |
$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$151,400±$26k 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
$997±$182Highest 38% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
| Altona and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,395 48% below NY |
$1,687Lowest 74% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7 NY: 52.1% |
69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Altona and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
77.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 29% below NY |
27 minHighest 16% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Afton 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 | #418 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.7 |
— | — |
| 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.