Compare towns
Berkshire vs Java vs Sheldon vs Amboy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Amboy has the most affordable homes ($125k 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 | Berkshire | Java | Sheldon | Amboy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,263Lowest |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
1,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-1.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±3.2Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
40±10.2 about the NY average |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Berkshire and Amboy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
9.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest 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 | $74,881±$18k 13% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$65,234±$17kLowest 24% below NY |
| Java and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,900±$20k 67% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$124,800±$21kLowest 71% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,368±$126Highest 16% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$944±$65 42% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,243 51% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.2%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.6%±36 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Amboy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 13 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
31 min 4% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
2.9%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.