Compare towns
Java vs Afton vs Collins 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
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Afton has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Collins has the most people working from home (11%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Java | Afton | Collins | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,733 |
4,643Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±6.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Collins and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
16.3% NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest 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 | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
$60,905±$5k 29% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% 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 | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$153,000±$11k 64% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$826±$212 49% below NY |
$799±$90Lowest 51% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Java and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
$2,501Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
59.4%±38.2 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Collins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.1%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.2% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
11%±5Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Collins 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 | — | #418 of 484 in NY | #467 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GOWANDA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.7 |
— | — |
| 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.