Compare towns
Charlotte vs Ellenburg 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
Charlotte has the most affordable homes ($108k median).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Charlotte | Ellenburg | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
1,992 |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.8±4.3 15% above NY |
46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Charlotte and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Charlotte and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.2% NY: 40.2% |
16.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9 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 | $61,082±$4kLowest 29% below NY |
$73,125±$10k 15% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $107,500±$10kLowest 75% below NY |
$123,000±$16k 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $648±$208Lowest 60% below NY |
$801±$192 51% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,049 54% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±25.6 NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.3% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 8% below NY |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— | — |
| 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.