Compare towns
Denmark vs Java vs Sanford 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
Denmark has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sanford has the most people working from home (10.3%).
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 | Denmark | Java | Sanford | Afton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,630 |
2,049Lowest |
2,130 |
2,733Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.7±6.6 22% above NY |
47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
| Denmark and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.3 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Denmark and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Sanford and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.7% NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sanford and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,270±$4k 26% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$76,724±$6k 11% below NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
| Java and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$140,900±$21k 67% 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 | $952±$70Highest 41% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$792±$88Lowest 51% below NY |
$826±$212 49% below NY |
| Denmark and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 50% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,378 49% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54%±22.4 NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.4% NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.7% NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Sanford 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 | #142 of 484 in NY | — | — | #418 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.7 |
| 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.