Compare towns
Altona vs Brasher vs Ellenburg 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).
Brasher has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k 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 | Altona | Brasher | Ellenburg | Java |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,490 |
2,592Highest |
1,992Lowest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4.6% NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40±5Lowest about the NY average |
46.6±9 17% above NY |
46.7±4.5Highest 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
| Ellenburg and Brasher 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% |
18.4%±6.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Ellenburg and Java 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% |
23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Ellenburg and Brasher 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% |
10.6% NY: 40.2% |
16.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Brasher 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 |
$53,911±$14k 37% below NY |
$73,125±$10k 15% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $151,400±$26k 64% below NY |
$124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
$123,000±$16kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $997±$182Highest 38% below NY |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$801±$192 51% 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 |
$2,500 62% below NY |
$2,412 63% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.5%±68.6 NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.2% NY: 14% |
22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7% NY: 54.3% |
75.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.3% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% below NY |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ellenburg 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 | — | #300 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.