Compare towns

Dansville vs Java vs Shelby

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dansville has the most affordable homes ($119k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Shelby has the most people working from home (12.5%).

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.

MeasureDansvilleJavaShelby
People
Population
4,653
2,049Lowest
4,858Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.1%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-7.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
45.2±3.7Highest
14% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
45±3.2
13% above NY
Dansville and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±3.8Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
17%±3.8Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Java and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±5.4
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.6%±3.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
Shelby and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.6%
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
18.7%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
1.2%±0.8
NY: 7%
Java and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,329±$7kLowest
33% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$65,655±$14k
24% below NY
Java and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$118,600±$10kLowest
72% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$136,000±$29k
68% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$906±$168Highest
44% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$788±$214Lowest
51% below NY
Dansville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,529Lowest
46% below NY
$3,775
43% below NY
$3,903Highest
41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±16.9Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
30.9%±12.3
NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line
6.7%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.5%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
67.8%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1956Highest
3 yrs older than NY
1943
16 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
19% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
26 minLowest
19% below NY
Work from home
7.9%±4.5Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
12.5%±5.3Highest
NY: 14.9%
Shelby 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 — — #401 of 484 in NY
School district — — MEDINA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — MEDINA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.6
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.