Compare towns

Barre vs Denmark 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

Barre has the most affordable homes ($136k median).
Denmark has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

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.

MeasureBarreDenmarkJavaSheldon
People
Population
1,910Lowest
2,630Highest
2,049
2,216
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-9%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-8.2%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
45.2±6.7
14% above NY
48.9±7.9Highest
23% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
Kids under 18
24.4%±4.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.8%±3.9
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
14.9%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Barre and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±2.8
NY: 17.9%
22.9%±5.5
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
25%±3.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
13%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
14.7%
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
13.7%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.8Lowest
NY: 7%
3.6%±1.3Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
Denmark and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,906±$14k
14% below NY
$63,270±$4kLowest
26% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$71,214±$5k
17% below NY
Java and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$135,900±$28kLowest
68% below NY
$193,600±$25k
54% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$175,900±$14k
58% below NY
Java and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,158±$208Highest
29% below NY
$952±$70
41% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$818±$84Lowest
50% below NY
Barre and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,466
47% below NY
$3,310
50% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$3,037Lowest
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.7%±35.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
37%±12.2
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3
NY: 52.1%
Barre and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
23.4%Highest
NY: 14%
16.7%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
11.8%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%
NY: 54.3%
74.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1965Highest
6 yrs newer than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
36% below NY
23 min
29% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
Work from home
6.5%±2.8
NY: 14.9%
6.5%±2.4
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Java and Barre 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 — #142 of 484 in NY — —
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.