Compare towns
Elbridge vs Java vs Sheldon vs Van Buren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elbridge has the most affordable homes ($152k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Van Buren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Elbridge | Java | Sheldon | Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,440 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
14,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.5 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
42.1±3.7Lowest 6% above NY |
| Sheldon and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.4%±3 NY: 20.5% |
| Elbridge and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
39.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
4.1%±1Highest NY: 7% |
| Van Buren and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,479±$5k 11% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$73,779±$8k 14% below NY |
| Java and Elbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $152,400±$13kLowest 64% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$169,600±$5k 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $790±$104Lowest 51% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$1,269±$87Highest 22% below NY |
| Van Buren and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,153 37% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$4,171Highest 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±9.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.8%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Van Buren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
61.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
25 min 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Van Buren 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 | #113 of 484 in NY | — | — | #386 of 484 in NY |
| School district | JORDAN-ELBRIDGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | JORDAN-ELBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | None in town |
| 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.