Compare towns
Java vs Berkshire vs Pike 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 most people working from home (9%).
Berkshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Pike has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Java | Berkshire | Pike | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,263 |
812Lowest |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
39±3.2Lowest about the NY average |
48.3±4.4 21% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Pike 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% |
28.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Berkshire and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Pike and Sheldon 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% |
12.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
15.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 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 |
$74,881±$18k 13% below NY |
$71,250±$11k 17% below NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Java and Berkshire 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 |
$141,900±$20k 67% below NY |
$129,100±$18kLowest 70% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,368±$126Highest 16% below NY |
$810±$762Lowest 50% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Berkshire and Java 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 |
$3,573 46% below NY |
$2,947Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
24.2%±35.6 NY: 52.1% |
83.7%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Pike and Sheldon 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% |
9.6% NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83.7% NY: 54.3% |
80.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
35 minHighest 6% above NY |
22 minLowest 33% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Berkshire 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.