Compare towns
Harford vs Java vs Sheldon vs Lapeer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harford has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Lapeer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Harford | Java | Sheldon | Lapeer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980 |
2,049 |
2,216Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46.6±13 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
47.8±10.2 20% above NY |
| Sheldon and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Harford and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
29.5%±9.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Lapeer and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
19.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.9%±2.7 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 | $75,905±$3k 12% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$62,955±$14kLowest 27% below NY |
| Java and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $109,800±$40kLowest 74% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$160,600±$48k 62% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$119Highest 37% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$993±$435 39% below NY |
| Harford and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,684 44% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,109 53% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.3%±24.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
44.7%±32.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
16.9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1975 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.2%±8.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
| Harford 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.