Compare towns
Dansville vs Java vs Sheldon vs Wayland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Wayland has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
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 | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,908Lowest |
2,049 |
2,216 |
3,698Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44±6 11% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
39.5±4.3Lowest about the NY average |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
28.2%±5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wayland and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±1.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
15.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±4.4Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Dansville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,400±$9k 19% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$65,385±$15kLowest 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 | $132,700±$25k 69% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$105,400±$16kLowest 75% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,143±$398Highest 29% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$955±$280 41% below NY |
| Dansville and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,302 50% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,052 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±42 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
46.3%±12.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Dansville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
77%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.7%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±2.1 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 | — | — | — | #390 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | WAYLAND-COHOCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | WAYLAND-COHOCTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.