Compare towns
Centerville vs Java vs Princetown 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%).
Java has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Princetown has the most expensive homes ($316k 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 | Java | Princetown | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 700Lowest |
2,049 |
1,860 |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.9±4.7 20% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Princetown 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
15.7%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Princetown 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% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
29%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 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 |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$98,438±$21kHighest 14% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Princetown and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$315,700±$39kHighest 26% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,354±$91Highest 16% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Princetown 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$5,750Highest 13% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.6%±58.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Princetown 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.2% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.7% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±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.