Compare towns
Ellenburg vs Java vs Wethersfield 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 most expensive homes ($224k median).
Wethersfield has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Wethersfield | Altona |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,992 |
2,049 |
815Lowest |
2,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.7±4.5Highest 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4 16% above NY |
40±5Lowest about the NY average |
| Ellenburg and Wethersfield 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% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wethersfield and Ellenburg 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% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
18.6%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Ellenburg and Java 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% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield 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±$24k 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY |
| Wethersfield and Java 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±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$131,300±$20k 69% below NY |
$151,400±$26k 64% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $801±$192Lowest 51% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$997±$182Highest 38% below NY |
| Altona and Wethersfield 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 |
$2,787 58% 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% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Altona and Wethersfield 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% |
9% NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% 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 |
1977 18 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 |
28 min 13% below NY |
27 min 16% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.1Lowest 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 | 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.