Compare towns
Denmark vs Fort Drum 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
Fort Drum has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.7%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Denmark | Fort Drum | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,630 |
16,065Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+22.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
23.3±0.9Lowest 41% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
31.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7% NY: 40.2% |
34.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.3 NY: 7% |
12.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,270±$4k 26% below NY |
$62,291±$8kLowest 28% 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 | $193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
— | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Java and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $952±$70 41% below NY |
$1,622±$86Highest about the NY average |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310 50% below NY |
— | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
55.9%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Fort Drum and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NY: 54.3% |
4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
2004Highest 45 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
11 minLowest 66% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 6.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.7%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Fort Drum and Java 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 | #142 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| 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.