Compare towns
Genesee Falls vs Java vs Sheldon vs Portage
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Genesee Falls has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Portage has the most kids (29.1% 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 | Genesee Falls | Java | Sheldon | Portage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 400Lowest |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-13.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46±10 16% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
36.9±4.7Lowest 7% below NY |
| Sheldon and Genesee Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
29.1%±4.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Portage and Genesee Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Genesee Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.5 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,429±$9kLowest 23% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$70,556±$27k 18% 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 | $143,200±$31kLowest 66% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$145,600±$43k 66% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $825±$286 49% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,040±$313Highest 36% below NY |
| Portage and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,268 50% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.1%±48.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
81.3%±42.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Portage and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
13.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
84.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 9 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 3% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
38 minHighest 16% above NY |
| Work from home | 6.8%±5.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
4.3%±3 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Genesee Falls 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.