Compare towns
Afton vs Brasher vs Gaines 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 the most renters (28.9% rent).
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
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 | Brasher | Gaines | Java |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,733 |
2,592 |
3,216Highest |
2,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY |
46.6±9 17% above NY |
45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
| Afton and Brasher 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% |
18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest 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%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines and Brasher 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% |
10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
14.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2 NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
$53,911±$14k 37% below NY |
$56,582±$8k 34% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,700±$23k 70% below NY |
$124,300±$24kLowest 71% below NY |
$125,800±$19k 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$212 49% below NY |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$922±$72Highest 43% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
| Gaines 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 |
$2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,157 52% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7 NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher 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% |
22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.4% NY: 54.3% |
74.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines 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 | #418 of 484 in NY | #300 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.