Compare towns

Dansville 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

Dansville has the most affordable homes ($119k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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.

MeasureDansvilleJavaSheldon
People
Population
4,653Highest
2,049Lowest
2,216
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
45.2±3.7
14% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
Sheldon and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±3.8
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
14.9%±3.9Lowest
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%
25%±3.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon 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%
13.7%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
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
$57,329±$7kLowest
33% 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
$118,600±$10kLowest
72% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$175,900±$14k
58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$906±$168Highest
44% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$818±$84Lowest
50% 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
$3,529
46% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$3,037Lowest
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69%±16.9Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3
NY: 52.1%
Dansville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.7%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
11.8%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1963Highest
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
19% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
Work from home
7.9%±4.5
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Java and Dansville 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

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.