Compare towns
Champion vs Java vs Sheldon vs Solvay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Champion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Solvay has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
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 | Solvay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,530 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
6,544Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+0.9% 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 |
38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average |
| 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% |
22.4%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Solvay and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24% 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% |
6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Solvay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$13kLowest 34% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$61,166±$7k 29% 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±$14k 58% below NY |
$150,000±$13kLowest 65% 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±$255Highest 35% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$946±$77 42% below NY |
| Champion and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,247 51% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$4,459Highest 32% 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%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
32.1%±9.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Champion 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% |
6.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 38% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
19 minLowest 41% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Champion 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.