Compare towns
Darien vs Holland 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
Darien has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Holland has the most expensive homes ($265k median).
Java has the most people working from home (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 | Darien | Holland | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,988 |
3,266Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.5% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.5±8.8 27% above NY |
51.9±4.2Highest 30% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
| Holland and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±5.9 NY: 20.5% |
20%±6.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±5.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Holland and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17% NY: 40.2% |
22.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,423±$15k about the NY average |
$66,198±$18kLowest 23% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Darien are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $211,400±$21k 50% below NY |
$265,000±$32kHighest 37% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Holland and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $768±$120Lowest 53% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$4,276 35% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
62.7%±39.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Holland and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NY: 14% |
6.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7% NY: 54.3% |
89% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1948Lowest 11 yrs older than NY |
1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 25% below NY |
29 min 12% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.8 NY: 14.9% |
3.7%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Darien 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 | — | #419 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | HOLLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | HOLLAND HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.0 |
— | — |
| 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.