Compare towns
Champion vs Java vs Sheldon vs Fort Drum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Fort Drum has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.7%).
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 | Champion | Java | Sheldon | Fort Drum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,530 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
16,065Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+22.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40±3 about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
23.3±0.9Lowest 41% below NY |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
31.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest 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+ | 21.2% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
12.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$13kLowest 34% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$62,291±$8k 28% 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 | $198,900±$16k 53% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
— |
| Java and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,054±$255 35% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,622±$86Highest about the NY average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,247 51% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
55.9%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Fort Drum and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
2004Highest 45 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 38% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
11 minLowest 66% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.7%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Fort Drum 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 | #309 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.