Compare towns

Altona vs Arcade vs Java

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Altona has the youngest population (median age 40).
Arcade has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureAltonaArcadeJava
People
Population
2,490
4,210Highest
2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40±5Lowest
about the NY average
46±3.7Highest
16% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
Arcade and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
16.3%±3.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
Java and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.6%±5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
21.5%±3.8Highest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
Arcade and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
6.1%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
23.6%
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.2%±0.7Lowest
NY: 7%
5.6%±3.1Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
Arcade and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,367±$3kLowest
40% below NY
$62,011±$8k
28% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$151,400±$26kLowest
64% below NY
$163,900±$15k
61% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$997±$182Highest
38% below NY
$813±$152Lowest
50% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
Altona and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,687Lowest
74% below NY
$4,172Highest
37% below NY
$3,775
43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.5%±68.6Highest
NY: 52.1%
40.4%±13.5
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
Altona and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.2%Highest
NY: 14%
11.4%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.7%
NY: 54.3%
73.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
21 yrs newer than NY
1977
18 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
16% below NY
29 minHighest
10% below NY
27 minLowest
17% below NY
Work from home
2.3%±2.1Lowest
NY: 14.9%
6.1%±3
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
Java and Arcade 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 — #260 of 484 in NY —
School district — YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town — None in town —
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.