Compare towns
Charlotte vs Java vs Sheldon vs Gerry
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).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Gerry has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
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 | Java | Sheldon | Gerry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,501Lowest |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
1,668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.8±4.3 15% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
52.4±5.7Highest 32% above NY |
| Gerry and Sheldon 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Charlotte and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gerry and Charlotte 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% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
23.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Gerry and Sheldon 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$68,667±$12k 20% 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 | $107,500±$10kLowest 75% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$119,200±$10k 72% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $648±$208Lowest 60% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$1,138±$260Highest 30% below NY |
| Gerry and Java 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±25.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
61.2%±16.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Gerry and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 8% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Gerry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | CASSADAGA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | CASSADAGA VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.