Compare towns
Geneva vs Java vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Geneva has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k 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 | Geneva | Java | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,471Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53±3.8Highest 33% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
| Geneva and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Geneva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±6.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Geneva and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Geneva and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,589±$19k 4% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Java and Geneva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,600±$9kHighest 45% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Geneva and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$102Highest 37% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Geneva and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,419 48% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±15.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Geneva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 45% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 3%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Geneva 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 |
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.