Compare towns
Beekmantown vs Java vs Fenton vs Saranac
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beekmantown has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Fenton has the most affordable homes ($144k median).
Saranac has the most kids (29.1% under 18).
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 | Beekmantown | Java | Fenton | Saranac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,439 |
2,049Lowest |
6,304Highest |
3,822 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.9±4.3 about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
38.5±6.9Lowest 3% below NY |
39.3±3.9 about the NY average |
| Java and Beekmantown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±5.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
25.4%±5.1 NY: 20.5% |
29.1%±6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Saranac and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Fenton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.6Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3.1%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Beekmantown and Fenton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,162±$11k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$73,162±$13kLowest 15% below NY |
$82,500±$16k 4% below NY |
| Java and Beekmantown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,700±$33k 58% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$143,900±$12kLowest 66% below NY |
$173,200±$46k 59% below NY |
| Java and Beekmantown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$168 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,021±$312Highest 37% below NY |
$969±$156 40% below NY |
| Fenton and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,885Highest 41% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,952 55% below NY |
$2,646Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 15.5%±16.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
40%±16Highest NY: 52.1% |
10%±26.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Fenton and Beekmantown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 33% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 37% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
5%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Fenton 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 | #287 of 484 in NY | — | #399 of 484 in NY | #172 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BEEKMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SARANAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BEEKMANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL | — | CHENANGO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | SARANAC HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.