Compare towns
Clifton vs Java vs Sheldon vs Colton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clifton has the most affordable homes ($111k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Colton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Clifton | Java | Sheldon | Colton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 768Lowest |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
1,395 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+5.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.9±3.2 18% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
50.5±7.6Highest 27% above NY |
| Colton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.7%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Clifton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
29.9%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Colton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.1% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
33.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.5 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 | $47,228±$10kLowest 45% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$69,156±$7k 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 | $111,200±$12kLowest 74% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$164,300±$13k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $806±$211 50% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$475±$261Lowest 71% 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 | $2,378Lowest 64% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,728 59% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±43.1 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
22.7%±56.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Clifton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
13.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 1 yr 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 | 34 minHighest 3% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
28 min 15% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Colton and Clifton 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.