Compare towns
Colesville vs Java vs Seneca 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
Colesville has the most kids (29.1% under 18).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
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 | Colesville | Java | Seneca | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,797Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 37.2±6.3Lowest 7% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29.1%±6.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Colesville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 9.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest 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 | $61,317±$14kLowest 29% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $134,800±$18kLowest 68% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,312±$790 19% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Seneca and Colesville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,638Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.7%±96.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Colesville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 32% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 3%±3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca 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 | #442 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | HARPURSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | HARPURSVILLE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.