Compare towns
Groton vs Java vs Sheldon vs Fort Edward
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most people working from home (11.2%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Fort Edward has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Groton | Java | Sheldon | Fort Edward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,612 |
2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
5,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43±7.9 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
41.2±5.9Lowest 4% 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 | 23.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.2%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Groton and Fort Edward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.7%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Fort Edward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Fort Edward and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$70,366±$12k 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 | $163,900±$9kLowest 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$180,700±$18k 57% below NY |
| Java and Fort Edward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$239Highest 37% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,011±$231 38% below NY |
| Groton and Fort Edward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,955Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,653 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±25.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
59.2%±17Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Fort Edward and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
13.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
70.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1946Lowest 13 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
24 min 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.6%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Groton 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 | #322 of 484 in NY | — | — | #341 of 484 in NY |
| School district | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | HUDSON FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.