Compare towns
Java vs Caroline vs Wethersfield 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 homeowners (95.2%).
Caroline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
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 | Caroline | Wethersfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
3,280Highest |
815Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+1.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.5±3.5Lowest about the NY average |
46±4.4 16% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Wethersfield 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% |
17.9%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wethersfield 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% |
18.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$80,855±$21k 6% below NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Wethersfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,398±$416Highest 14% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Caroline and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$5,703Highest 13% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.3%±15.4 NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Caroline 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% |
14.6%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline 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 | — | #345 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER | — | — |
| 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.