Compare towns
Dayton vs Java vs Sheldon vs Leon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dayton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1954).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Leon has the most kids (42.2% 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 | Dayton | Java | Sheldon | Leon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,829 |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
1,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
26.4±5.3Lowest 34% below NY |
| Sheldon and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
42.2%±15Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Leon and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±1.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.5%±4Lowest 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+ | 18.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Dayton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,553±$10k 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$56,048±$11kLowest 35% 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 | $111,700±$13k 74% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$103,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $907±$192 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$960±$282Highest 41% below NY |
| Leon and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,161 52% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,259 50% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26%±17.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
21.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 6% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
35 minHighest 7% above NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.7 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Leon and Dayton 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 | 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.