Compare towns
Arcade vs Colden vs Java vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arcade has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Colden has the most people working from home (15%).
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Arcade | Colden | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,210Highest |
3,145 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46±3.7 16% above NY |
49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
| Colden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.6% NY: 40.2% |
41%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,011±$8kLowest 28% below NY |
$97,935±$15kHighest 14% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Colden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY |
$302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $813±$152Lowest 50% below NY |
$943±$142Highest 42% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Colden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,172 37% below NY |
$4,752Highest 28% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Colden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NY: 14% |
10% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
26 minLowest 19% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
15%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Colden 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 | #260 of 484 in NY | #346 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.