Compare towns
Afton vs Denmark vs Java vs Russia
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 affordable homes ($126k median).
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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 | Java | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,733Highest |
2,630 |
2,049Lowest |
2,272 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.2% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY |
| Denmark and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Russia 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%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Denmark and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
14.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Denmark and Russia 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
| Java and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
| Russia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
$952±$70Highest 41% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
| Denmark and Russia 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 |
$3,310 50% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,939Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% NY: 14% |
16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 29% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Java 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 | — | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.7Lowest |
— | — | 10.6Highest |
| 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.