Compare towns

Java vs Freedom vs Wilna 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%).
Wilna has the most kids (31.3% under 18).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

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.

MeasureJavaFreedomWilnaSheldon
People
Population
2,049Lowest
2,483
5,677Highest
2,216
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-6%
NY: +4.2%
-10.8%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
43.2±7
9% above NY
29.1±5.2Lowest
27% below 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%
18.6%±4.3
NY: 20.5%
31.3%±5.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
14.9%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Age 65+
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
16.6%±2.9
NY: 17.9%
10.2%±2.6Lowest
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%
17.7%
NY: 40.2%
13.7%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4Lowest
NY: 7%
3.9%±2.8
NY: 7%
6.2%±2.8Highest
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
Wilna and Freedom 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
$60,213±$11kLowest
30% 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
$137,400±$19kLowest
68% 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
$946±$47Highest
42% below NY
$818±$84
50% below NY
Wilna 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
$2,747Lowest
58% below NY
$3,037
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
10.1%±32.5
NY: 52.1%
34.6%±10.3
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
Sheldon and Wilna 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%
19.2%Highest
NY: 14%
11.8%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
88.9%
NY: 54.3%
51.8%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1982Highest
23 yrs newer than NY
1952Lowest
7 yrs older than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% below NY
28 min
15% below NY
24 minLowest
26% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
Work from home
9%±4.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
6.9%±2.9
NY: 14.9%
4.1%±2.4
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.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #482 of 484 in NY —
School district — — CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town — — None in town —
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.