Compare towns
Central Square vs Java vs Sardinia 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
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sardinia has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Central Square | Java | Sardinia | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,163 |
2,049Lowest |
2,703Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.3±8 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
42.5±7.5Lowest 7% 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 | 19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.7% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Sardinia and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,500±$23kLowest 19% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$91Highest 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$855±$83 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Central Square and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±13.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
30 min 10% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Central Square and Sardinia 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.