Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Sheldon vs Chenango
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Chenango has the most kids (22.7% 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 | Dickinson | Java | Sheldon | Chenango |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
10,787Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
41±2.8Lowest 3% above NY |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Chenango and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
35.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
4.8%±2 NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$86,646±$9k about the NY average |
| Java and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$172,000±$9k 59% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,038±$97Highest 36% below NY |
| Chenango and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,700 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±8.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
85.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
24 min 27% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Chenango 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 | — | — | — | #233 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.