What stands out worked out from the figures below

Altona has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

Dannemora has the most people working from home (8.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Altona	Dannemora
People
Population	2,490Lowest	2,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-16.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40±5Highest about the NY average	37.2±1.5Lowest 7% below NY
	Altona and Dannemora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	6.4%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.6%±5Highest NY: 17.9%	4.9%±2.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	1.5%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Dannemora and Altona 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	$62,411±$49kHighest 27% below NY
	Dannemora and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$151,400±$26kHighest 64% below NY	$134,400±$20kLowest 68% below NY
	Altona and Dannemora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$997±$182Highest 38% below NY	$740±$352Lowest 54% below NY
	Altona and Dannemora 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	$2,942Highest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1%	53.6%±55.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Altona and Dannemora 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%	13.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.9%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 16% below NY	16 minLowest 50% below NY
Work from home	2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.9%±5.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Dannemora and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.