Compare towns
Java vs Gorham vs Hanover 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).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hanover has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
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.
| Measure | Java | Gorham | Hanover | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
4,093 |
6,882Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-2.2% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
50.6±5.5Highest 27% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
| Hanover and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Gorham 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% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
26.7%±4.8 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
23% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Gorham 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 |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$71,563±$9k 17% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$141,500±$16kLowest 67% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Gorham and Java 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 |
$1,165±$208Highest 28% below NY |
$993±$105 39% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Gorham and Hanover 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 |
$3,497 47% below NY |
$2,881Lowest 56% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
46.5%±22.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Sheldon 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% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
14.2%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.7% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1950Lowest 9 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 19% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±5.7 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Gorham and Hanover 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 | — | #246 of 484 in NY | #196 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
9.3Highest |
— |
| 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.