Compare towns
Centerville vs Dansville 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
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Dansville has the most renters (28% rent).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
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 | Centerville | Dansville | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 700Lowest |
4,653Highest |
2,049 |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
45.2±3.7 14% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.2%±5.4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% NY: 40.2% |
19.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest 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 | $83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$57,329±$7kLowest 33% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,800±$49k 72% below NY |
$118,600±$10kLowest 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$906±$168Highest 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Dansville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,981Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,529 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
69%±16.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Dansville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest NY: 14% |
6.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% NY: 54.3% |
72%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 19% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.9%±4.5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Centerville and Java 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.