Compare towns
Berkshire vs Java vs Sheldon vs Caroline
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 highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Caroline has the most people working from home (22.1%).
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 | Caroline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,263Lowest |
2,049 |
2,216 |
3,280Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+1.6% 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 |
40.5±3.5 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% |
17.9%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Berkshire and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Caroline and Sheldon 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±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$80,855±$21k 6% below NY |
| Java and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $141,900±$20kLowest 67% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
| Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,368±$126 16% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,398±$416Highest 14% below NY |
| Caroline and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,573 46% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$5,703Highest 13% 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% |
43.3%±15.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Caroline 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% |
14.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline 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 | — | — | — | #345 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER |
| 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.