Compare towns
Gorham vs Java vs Sheldon vs Canandaigua
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Canandaigua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
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 | Gorham | Java | Sheldon | Canandaigua |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,093 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
11,270Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+10.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
46.6±3.1 17% above NY |
| Sheldon and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.7%±2.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
49.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
4.3%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
| Canandaigua and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$96,515±$10kHighest 12% above NY |
| Canandaigua and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,300±$27k 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$345,500±$25kHighest 18% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,553±$168Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,497 47% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$6,718Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
64.8%±16.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Canandaigua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
8.7% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
66.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 same as NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1990Highest 31 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
25 min 22% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.4%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Canandaigua and Gorham 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 | #246 of 484 in NY | — | — | #171 of 484 in NY |
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — | — |
| High school in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.