Compare towns
Colden vs Java vs Russia 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 people working from home (15%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Russia has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Colden | Java | Russia | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,145Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,272 |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±2.9Lowest 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% |
21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Russia 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%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
28.5% 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% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Colden and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,935±$15kHighest 14% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Colden and Java 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 |
$232,200±$44k 45% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Colden and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $943±$142Highest 42% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Colden and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,752Highest 28% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,939Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Colden and Sheldon 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% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 19% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 15%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Colden and Java 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.