Compare towns
Arcade vs Freedom 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%).
Freedom has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Freedom | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,210Highest |
2,483 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46±3.7 16% above NY |
43.2±7Lowest 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Arcade 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% |
18.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Freedom 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% |
16.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Arcade 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% |
15.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Freedom 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 |
$73,646±$24k 14% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Freedom 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 |
$176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Java and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $813±$152 50% below NY |
$519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,172Highest 37% below NY |
$3,443 48% 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% |
10.1%±32.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1982Highest 23 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 |
28 min 15% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Freedom 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school 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.