Compare towns
Dansville vs Java vs Sheldon vs Tupper Lake
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%).
Tupper Lake has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Dansville | Java | Sheldon | Tupper Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,653 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
5,104Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-13.8%Lowest 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 |
47.7±4.7 20% above NY |
| Sheldon and Tupper Lake 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% |
18.8%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Tupper Lake 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%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.5%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Tupper Lake and Sheldon 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% |
21.1% 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% |
1.5%±1 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 |
$65,433±$11k 24% 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 |
$151,300±$29k 64% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $906±$168Highest 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$793±$119Lowest 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 | $3,529 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,670 44% 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% |
24.1%±9.6 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% NY: 14% |
17.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
71.6%Lowest 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 |
1958 1 yr older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 19% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
15 minLowest 55% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.9%±4.5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Dansville 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 | — | — | — | #459 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | NYS OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES · TUPPER LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | TUPPER LAKE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.