Compare towns
Colesville vs Denmark vs Java vs Afton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colesville has the most kids (29.1% under 18).
Denmark has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
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.
| Measure | Colesville | Denmark | Java | Afton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,797Highest |
2,630 |
2,049Lowest |
2,733 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 37.2±6.3Lowest 7% below NY |
48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
| Denmark and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29.1%±6.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Colesville and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Denmark and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
14.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
11.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Denmark and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $61,317±$14k 29% below NY |
$63,270±$4k 26% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $134,800±$18k 68% below NY |
$193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
| Java and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,312±$790Highest 19% below NY |
$952±$70 41% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
| Colesville and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,638Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,310 50% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±96.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Colesville and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest NY: 14% |
16.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NY: 54.3% |
74.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Denmark 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 | #442 of 484 in NY | #142 of 484 in NY | — | #418 of 484 in NY |
| School district | HARPURSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HARPURSVILLE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Highest |
— | — | 6.7Lowest |
| 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.