Compare towns

Afton vs Java vs Sanford

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 most expensive homes ($224k median).
Sanford has the most people working from home (10.3%).

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.

MeasureAftonJavaSanford
People
Population
2,733Highest
2,049Lowest
2,130
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.9%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
47.6±6.3
20% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
48.7±6.6Highest
22% above NY
Sanford 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%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
19.7%±3.3
NY: 20.5%
Java and Sanford 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%
28%±3.4Highest
NY: 17.9%
Sanford 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%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
17.7%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
4.6%±2.3Highest
NY: 7%
Sanford and Java 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
$76,724±$6k
11% below NY
Java and Sanford 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
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$140,900±$21k
67% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$826±$212
49% below NY
$863±$419Highest
47% below NY
$792±$88Lowest
51% 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
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$3,378Lowest
49% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66%±45.7Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
54%±22.4
NY: 52.1%
Afton and Sanford 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%
16.4%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
80.7%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1965Highest
6 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
29% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
27 min
18% below NY
Work from home
4.5%±2.3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
10.3%±5.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
Sanford 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 — —
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

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.