Compare towns
Colesville vs Java vs Galen 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).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Galen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Afton has the most renters (28.9% rent).
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 | Java | Galen | Afton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,797Highest |
2,049Lowest |
4,369 |
2,733 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 37.2±6.3Lowest 7% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
37.7±5.2 5% below NY |
47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY |
| 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% |
27.8%±5.4 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Colesville and Galen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Afton and Java 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% |
14.3% NY: 40.2% |
11.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Galen 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$64,177±$7k 25% below NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
| Java and Galen 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 |
$95,400±$15kLowest 77% below NY |
$125,700±$23k 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,312±$790Highest 19% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$864±$286 47% below NY |
$826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
| Colesville and Galen 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,693 59% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±96.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.2%±25.8 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% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.5%Highest NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.2% NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
22 minLowest 32% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 3%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Galen 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 | — | #475 of 484 in NY | #418 of 484 in NY |
| School district | HARPURSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CLYDE-SAVANNAH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HARPURSVILLE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | CLYDE-SAVANNAH HIGH SCHOOL | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8 |
— | 9.9Highest |
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.