Compare towns
Denmark vs Java vs Le Ray 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
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Le Ray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
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 | Java | Le Ray | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,630 |
2,049Lowest |
25,266Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
24.7±0.7Lowest 38% below NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
27.5%±2.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
3.1%±0.8Lowest 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% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
28.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
10.5%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,270±$4k 26% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$63,073±$6kLowest 27% below 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 |
$185,600±$19k 56% 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 |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,473±$41Highest 9% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310 50% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,953Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.8%±9.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Le Ray 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
13% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1999Highest 40 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 29% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
13 minLowest 59% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 6.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±1.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Le Ray 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 | — | #375 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · INDIAN RIVER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.