Compare towns
Clinton vs Independence 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
Clinton has the most affordable homes ($89k median).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Clinton | Independence | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 574Lowest |
756 |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41±9.9Lowest 3% above NY |
41.9±5.9 5% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above 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%±6.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.2%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Clinton and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 6.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
12.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±3.2Lowest NY: 7% |
6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Independence and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,556±$8kLowest 41% below NY |
$68,750±$15k 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% 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 | $89,200±$39kLowest 79% below NY |
$100,800±$27k 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $609±$84Lowest 62% 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 | $933Lowest 86% below NY |
$2,606 60% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20%±29.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.6%Highest NY: 14% |
6.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NY: 54.3% |
83.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 10% above NY |
29 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 5.1%±5.8 NY: 14.9% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Clinton 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.