Compare towns
Java vs Centerville vs Amboy 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 expensive homes ($224k median).
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Centerville | Amboy | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
700Lowest |
1,286 |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.4% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
40±10.2 about the NY average |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% 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 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
13.8%±3.2 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.8% NY: 40.2% |
9.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 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 |
$83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$65,234±$17kLowest 24% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Centerville 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 |
$119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY |
$124,800±$21k 71% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$944±$65Highest 42% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Amboy 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 |
$2,981Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,243 51% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
45.6%±36 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Amboy 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% |
23.7% NY: 14% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.5% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 min 10% below NY |
31 min 4% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.4%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.9%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Centerville 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.