Compare towns
Gaines vs Java vs Afton vs Murray
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gaines has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Murray has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Gaines | Java | Afton | Murray |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,216 |
2,049Lowest |
2,733 |
4,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY |
40.3±2.8Lowest about the NY average |
| Afton and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
16.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.2 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,582±$8k 34% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
$65,077±$5k 24% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,800±$19k 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$125,700±$23k 70% below NY |
$123,800±$14kLowest 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $922±$72Highest 43% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
$826±$63Lowest 49% below NY |
| Gaines and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,157Lowest 52% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
$3,907Highest 41% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Murray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.1%Highest NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±6.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines and Murray 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 | — | — | #418 of 484 in NY | #430 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HOLLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | HOLLEY JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.7Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.