Compare towns
Brasher vs Java vs Sheldon vs Massena
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Massena has the most renters (39.1% rent).
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 | Brasher | Java | Sheldon | Massena |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,592 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
12,319Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±9 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
46.1±4.3 16% above NY |
| Sheldon and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±2.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.5%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
21.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Brasher and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,911±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$54,595±$7k 36% 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 | $124,300±$24k 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$106,400±$11kLowest 75% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $730±$195 55% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$725±$44Lowest 55% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$3,057 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
56.2%±11 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Massena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
23.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
60.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 37% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
19 minLowest 42% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
3.4%±1.8 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Massena 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 | #300 of 484 in NY | — | — | #404 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | MASSENA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.