Compare towns
Afton vs Brasher vs Java vs Sheldon
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%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Brasher | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,733Highest |
2,592 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
46.6±9 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Afton 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% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Brasher and Sheldon 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,700±$23k 70% below NY |
$124,300±$24kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$212 49% below NY |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Java and Afton 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7 NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
75.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 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 | #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.