Compare towns
Binghamton 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
Binghamton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Binghamton | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 47,151Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.9±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest 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+ | 30.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% 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 | $124,800±$7kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$38Highest 46% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Binghamton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,622 45% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±3.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Binghamton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 32.6%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 42% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9.3%±2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Binghamton 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 | #426 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.