Compare towns
Chazy vs Java vs Pembroke vs Altona
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chazy has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Altona has the most affordable homes ($151k 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 | Chazy | Java | Pembroke | Altona |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,071 |
2,049Lowest |
4,218Highest |
2,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±4.6 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
40.6±1.3 about the NY average |
40±5Lowest about the NY average |
| Java and Chazy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±4.5 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
23.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Pembroke and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±3.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.6%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Chazy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.1% NY: 40.2% |
6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 NY: 7% |
0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Chazy and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,648±$13kHighest 11% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$91,534±$14k 6% above NY |
$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY |
| Chazy and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,400±$20k 56% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$202,800±$22k 52% below NY |
$151,400±$26kLowest 64% below NY |
| Java and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$266Highest 32% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$945±$34 42% below NY |
$997±$182 38% below NY |
| Chazy and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,379 49% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,222Highest 36% below NY |
$1,687Lowest 74% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.9%±17.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
29.2%±16.1 NY: 52.1% |
69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Altona and Chazy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.8% NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.5% NY: 54.3% |
77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 24 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1980 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 36% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
27 minHighest 16% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.1%±7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.7%±2.2 NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Chazy and Java 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 | #102 of 484 in NY | — | #195 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CHAZY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | PEMBROKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CHAZY CENTRAL RURAL JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | PEMBROKE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.