Compare towns
Ellenburg vs Java vs Darien vs Charlotte
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Darien has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($108k median).
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 | Ellenburg | Java | Darien | Charlotte |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,992 |
2,049 |
2,988Highest |
1,501Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.7% NY: +4.2% |
-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
45.8±4.3 15% above NY |
| Darien and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19%±5.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.1%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Charlotte and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.8%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.8%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Charlotte and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17% NY: 40.2% |
15.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
| Darien and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,125±$10k 15% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$88,423±$15k about the NY average |
$61,082±$4kLowest 29% below NY |
| Java and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $123,000±$16k 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$211,400±$21k 50% below NY |
$107,500±$10kLowest 75% below NY |
| Java and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $801±$192 51% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
— | $648±$208Lowest 60% below NY |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$3,049 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.6%±25.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Charlotte and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8.7% NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 4% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
30 min 8% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 2 photos → |
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.