Compare towns

Afton vs Java vs Wales

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).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureAftonJavaWales
People
Population
2,733
2,049Lowest
3,015Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.9%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
47.6±6.3Highest
20% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
43.9±6.6Lowest
10% above NY
Afton and Java 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%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
25.2%±5.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
Wales 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%
22.1%±5.7Highest
NY: 17.9%
Wales 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%
NY: 40.2%
25.4%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±0.9
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
0.8%±0.7Lowest
NY: 7%
Java and Afton 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
$88,590±$19k
3% above NY
Java and Wales 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±$30k
47% below NY
$244,800±$33kHighest
42% below NY
Wales 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
$863±$419
47% below NY
$950±$503Highest
41% below NY
Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,395Lowest
48% below NY
$3,775
43% below NY
$4,782Highest
27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66%±45.7Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
20.5%±27.8
NY: 52.1%
Afton and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
4.3%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
88.8%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1971Highest
12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
29% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
25 min
25% below NY
Work from home
4.5%±2.3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
7.2%±3.4
NY: 14.9%
Java and Wales 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 — #321 of 484 in NY
School district AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — IROQUOIS 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

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.