Compare towns
Ellenburg vs Java vs Durham vs Altona
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 highest household income ($95k).
Durham has the most people working from home (13%).
Altona has the youngest population (median age 40).
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 | Durham | Altona |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,992Lowest |
2,049 |
2,641Highest |
2,490 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.8±5.1Highest 23% above NY |
40±5Lowest about the NY average |
| Durham and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.3%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Ellenburg and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±3.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±7 NY: 17.9% |
18.6%±5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Ellenburg and Durham 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% NY: 40.2% |
28.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.2 NY: 7% |
0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Ellenburg 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 |
$81,471±$15k 5% below NY |
$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY |
| Java and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $123,000±$16kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY |
$151,400±$26k 64% below NY |
| Durham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $801±$192Lowest 51% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$994±$844 39% below NY |
$997±$182Highest 38% below NY |
| Altona and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,412 63% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,728 43% below NY |
$1,687Lowest 74% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
19.3%±40.8 NY: 52.1% |
69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Altona and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.1% NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
92% NY: 54.3% |
77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 4% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
27 min 16% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Durham 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 | — | — | #100 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.