Compare towns

Java vs Harford 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 expensive homes ($224k median).
Harford has the most people working from home (13.2%).
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.

MeasureJavaHarfordSheldon
People
Population
2,049
980Lowest
2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-7.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
46.6±13
17% above NY
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
Sheldon and Harford 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%
21.4%±5.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
14.9%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Harford 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%
19.6%±4.4
NY: 17.9%
25%±3.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon and Harford 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%
19%
NY: 40.2%
13.7%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
1.7%±1Lowest
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8Highest
NY: 7%
Sheldon and Java 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
$75,905±$3k
12% below NY
$71,214±$5kLowest
17% below NY
Java and Harford 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
$109,800±$40kLowest
74% below NY
$175,900±$14k
58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$863±$419
47% below NY
$1,019±$119Highest
37% below NY
$818±$84Lowest
50% below NY
Harford 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
$3,684
44% below NY
$3,037Lowest
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
35.3%±24.2
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
Sheldon and Harford 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%
13.6%Highest
NY: 14%
11.8%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
75.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1979Highest
20 yrs newer than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% below NY
26 minLowest
21% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
Work from home
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
13.2%±8.8Highest
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.