Compare towns
Dannemora vs Java vs Altona 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
Dannemora has the most affordable homes ($135k median).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
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 | Dannemora | Java | Altona | Saranac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,307 |
2,049Lowest |
2,490 |
3,822Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -17.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.7% NY: +4.2% |
-3.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±4.1Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
40±5 about the NY average |
39.3±3.9 about the NY average |
| Java and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
29.1%±6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Saranac and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.7%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.6%±5 NY: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 7.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.1%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Saranac and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,829±$18k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY |
$82,500±$16k 4% below NY |
| Java and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $134,600±$30kLowest 68% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$151,400±$26k 64% below NY |
$173,200±$46k 59% below NY |
| Java and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $913±$234 44% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$997±$182Highest 38% below NY |
$969±$156 40% below NY |
| Altona and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,029 54% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$1,687Lowest 74% below NY |
$2,646 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±34 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
10%±26.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Altona and Dannemora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
12.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
77.7% NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 minHighest 16% below NY |
22 min 32% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.9%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Saranac 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 | — | — | — | #172 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | SARANAC CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | SARANAC HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 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.