Compare towns
Java vs Freedom 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 people working from home (9%).
Amboy has the most affordable homes ($125k 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 | Freedom | Amboy | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,483Highest |
1,286Lowest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.2±7 9% above NY |
40±10.2Lowest 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% |
18.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Amboy 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% |
16.6%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
13.8%±3.2Lowest 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% |
15.5% NY: 40.2% |
9.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Freedom 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 |
$73,646±$24k 14% below NY |
$65,234±$17kLowest 24% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Freedom 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 |
$176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
$124,800±$21kLowest 71% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Java and Freedom 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 |
$519±$219Lowest 68% 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 |
$3,443 48% below NY |
$3,243 51% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
10.1%±32.5 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% |
7% NY: 14% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1982 23 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 |
28 min 15% below NY |
31 min 4% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
2.9%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Freedom 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.