Compare towns
Bainbridge vs Java vs Sheldon vs Afton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bainbridge has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Afton has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
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 | Bainbridge | Java | Sheldon | Afton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,017Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
2,733 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.2±7.6 21% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
| Sheldon and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Bainbridge and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,391±$8k 30% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,500±$32k 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $767±$237Lowest 53% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$826±$212 49% below NY |
| Java and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,712 44% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±12 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
23 min 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.5%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Bainbridge 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 | #332 of 484 in NY | — | — | #418 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | — | 6.7Lowest |
| 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.