Compare towns
Colden vs Java vs Lysander 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
Colden has the most expensive homes ($303k median).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k 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 | Colden | Java | Lysander | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,145 |
2,049Lowest |
23,086Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.6±1.9Lowest 10% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
| Colden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Colden and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,935±$15k 14% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Lysander and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$288,400±$18k 32% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Colden and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $943±$142 42% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,130±$100Highest 30% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Lysander and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,752 28% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Colden and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 19% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Lysander and Colden 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 | #346 of 484 in NY | — | #158 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.4 |
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| 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.