Compare towns
Java vs Jerusalem vs Starkey 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).
Jerusalem has the most expensive homes ($321k median).
Starkey has the most affordable homes ($146k 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 | Jerusalem | Starkey | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
4,278Highest |
3,381 |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
34±4.4Lowest 15% below NY |
41.3±2.5 4% above 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% |
18.5%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
22.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Starkey 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% |
21.3%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
12.7%±3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Jerusalem 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% |
45.2%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.4% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$86,780±$11k about the NY average |
$55,064±$7kLowest 36% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Jerusalem 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 |
$320,900±$59kHighest 24% below NY |
$145,700±$17kLowest 66% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$870±$116Highest 46% below NY |
$744±$96Lowest 54% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Jerusalem and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$4,523Highest 31% below NY |
$3,412 48% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
67.3%±43.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.6 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Jerusalem 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% NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
73.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1966 7 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
14.9%±8.5 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Jerusalem and Starkey 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 | — | — | #358 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.8 |
— |
| 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.