Compare towns
Dickinson vs Java vs Sheldon vs Union
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 most people working from home (14.4%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,001 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
55,078Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest 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 |
41.4±1.2Lowest 4% 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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Union 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% |
21.4%±1.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Union 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% |
33%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% |
6.1%±0.9 NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Union 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±$5k 17% below NY |
$61,713±$2kLowest 28% below NY |
| Java and Dickinson 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 |
$149,900±$5k 65% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $941±$68Highest 42% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$936±$37 42% below NY |
| Dickinson and Union 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$4,200Highest 36% 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% |
49.2%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Union 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% NY: 14% |
16.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
58.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
18 min 46% 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% |
9%±1.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson 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 | — | — | — | #199 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | UNION-ENDICOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · JOHNSON CITY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | UNION-ENDICOTT HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.