Compare towns

Colesville vs Java vs Afton vs Collins

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).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Collins has the most people working from home (11%).

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.

MeasureColesvilleJavaAftonCollins
People
Population
4,797Highest
2,049Lowest
2,733
4,643
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-2.9%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-10.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
37.2±6.3Lowest
7% below NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
47.6±6.3Highest
20% above NY
40.5±6.2
about the NY average
Afton and Java 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%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
19.5%±4.7Lowest
NY: 20.5%
24.4%±6.6
NY: 20.5%
Colesville and Collins 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%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
22%±4.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
21.3%±3.8
NY: 17.9%
Afton and Collins 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%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
11.6%
NY: 40.2%
16.3%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
NY: 7%
Java and Colesville 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
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$51,736±$13kLowest
40% below NY
$60,905±$5k
29% below NY
Java and Colesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$134,800±$18k
68% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$125,700±$23kLowest
70% below NY
$153,000±$11k
64% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,312±$790Highest
19% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$826±$212
49% below NY
$799±$90Lowest
51% below NY
Colesville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,638
60% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$3,395
48% below NY
$2,501Lowest
62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
81.7%±96.1Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
66%±45.7
NY: 52.1%
59.4%±38.2
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%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.1%
NY: 14%
9.1%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.2%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
71.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
82.2%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
12 yrs newer than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1952
7 yrs older than NY
1950Lowest
9 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
32% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
23 min
29% below NY
24 min
26% below NY
Work from home
3%±3Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
4.5%±2.3
NY: 14.9%
11%±5Highest
NY: 14.9%
Collins 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 #442 of 484 in NY — #418 of 484 in NY #467 of 484 in NY
School district HARPURSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town HARPURSVILLE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
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.