Compare towns
Ellington vs Java vs Sheldon vs Smyrna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellington has the youngest population (median age 42.1).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Smyrna has the most affordable homes ($90k 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 | Ellington | Java | Sheldon | Smyrna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,554 |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
1,392Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.1±4.8Lowest 6% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
43.4±7.4 9% 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 | 24.1%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
26.3%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Smyrna and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
15.8%±5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.1% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
9.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.2%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Ellington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,000±$15k 24% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$59,408±$10kLowest 31% 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 | $114,300±$13k 73% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$89,500±$10kLowest 79% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $681±$342Lowest 58% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$888±$384Highest 45% below NY |
| Smyrna and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,472 62% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,056Lowest 69% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
67.7%±84.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Ellington and Smyrna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
14.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 24% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 minLowest 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.6%±5.5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.5%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Smyrna and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.