Compare towns
Afton vs Java vs Gaines vs Denmark
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%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Denmark 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 | Java | Gaines | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,733 |
2,049Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.5% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
48.9±7.9Highest 23% 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Denmark and Java 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
14.4% NY: 40.2% |
14.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.3 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Denmark 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$56,582±$8k 34% below NY |
$63,270±$4k 26% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$125,800±$19k 70% below NY |
$193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
| Java and Denmark 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 |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$922±$72 43% below NY |
$952±$70Highest 41% below NY |
| Denmark and Gaines 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,157Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,310 50% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
37%±12.2 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.6% NY: 54.3% |
74.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 29% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±2.4 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 | — | — | #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 | 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.