Compare towns

Java vs Centerville vs Sardinia 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).
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sardinia has the most people working from home (10.2%).
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.

MeasureJavaCentervilleSardiniaSheldon
People
Population
2,049
700Lowest
2,703Highest
2,216
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+13%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-2.1%
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
26.2±7.8Lowest
34% below NY
42.5±7.5
7% above NY
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%
22.4%±6.5
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%
20.8%±4.7
NY: 17.9%
25%±3.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon and Sardinia 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%
21.7%
NY: 40.2%
13.7%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
NY: 7%
5%±2.9Highest
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
Sardinia and Sheldon 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
$84,583±$34k
about the NY average
$71,214±$5kLowest
17% below NY
Java and Sardinia 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
$218,900±$19k
48% below NY
$175,900±$14k
58% below NY
Java and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$863±$419Highest
47% below NY
$556±$489Lowest
66% below NY
$855±$83
47% below NY
$818±$84
50% below NY
Java and Sardinia 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
$2,981
55% below NY
$2,233Lowest
66% 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%
4.5%±28.2
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
Sheldon and Centerville 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%Highest
NY: 14%
12.4%
NY: 14%
11.8%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
80.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
90.8%
NY: 54.3%
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1987Highest
28 yrs newer than NY
1961
2 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
30 min
10% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
Work from home
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
9.4%±6.1
NY: 14.9%
10.2%±6.1Highest
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Sardinia and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.