Compare towns
Java vs Denmark vs Sheldon vs Seneca
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).
Denmark has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
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 | Denmark | Sheldon | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,630Highest |
2,216 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Denmark 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% |
22.9%±5.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Denmark 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% |
14.7% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.3Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Denmark 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 |
$63,270±$4kLowest 26% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Java and Denmark 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 |
$952±$70 41% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,310 50% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
37%±12.2 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Denmark 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% |
16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
74.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca 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 | — | #142 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| 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.