Compare towns
Afton vs Denmark vs Eagle vs Machias
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).
Denmark has the most expensive homes ($194k median).
Eagle has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Machias has the most affordable homes ($89k 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 | Denmark | Eagle | Machias |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,733Highest |
2,630 |
1,231Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.3% NY: +4.2% |
-2.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
48.9±7.9 23% above NY |
37.8±12.6Lowest 5% below NY |
49.7±7.6Highest 25% above NY |
| Machias and Denmark 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% |
20.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
26.1%±9.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Eagle and Denmark 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% |
22.9%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
16.7%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Machias and Denmark 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% |
14.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
12.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Denmark and Eagle 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 |
$63,270±$4k 26% below NY |
$72,778±$19kHighest 15% below NY |
$59,485±$19k 31% below NY |
| Eagle and Denmark 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 |
$193,600±$25kHighest 54% below NY |
$148,900±$41k 65% below NY |
$89,200±$13kLowest 79% below NY |
| Denmark and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$212 49% below NY |
$952±$70 41% below NY |
$736±$101Lowest 55% below NY |
$1,018±$112Highest 37% below NY |
| Machias and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,395Highest 48% below NY |
$3,310 50% below NY |
$2,753 58% below NY |
$2,089Lowest 68% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
54.7%±33 NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±12.1Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Eagle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.7% NY: 14% |
14.8% NY: 14% |
20.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.5% NY: 54.3% |
80.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
76.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 29% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±6.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Eagle and Denmark 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 | #142 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 | 1 photos → | None yet | 2 photos → | 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.