Compare towns
Java vs Jerusalem vs Union Vale 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 homeowners (95.2%).
Jerusalem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Union Vale has the most expensive homes ($491k median).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
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 | Union Vale | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
4,278 |
4,567Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
34±4.4Lowest 15% below NY |
40.7±4.4 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% |
18.5%±3.1 NY: 20.5% |
26%±7.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Union Vale 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% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
42.9% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
21.9%±1.4Highest NY: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$86,780±$11k about the NY average |
$102,888±$22kHighest 20% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Union Vale and Java 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±$59k 24% below NY |
$490,900±$45kHighest 16% above NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$870±$116 46% below NY |
$2,167±$2kHighest 34% above NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Union Vale and Jerusalem 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 |
$4,523 31% below NY |
$9,469Highest 44% above 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% |
52.1%±20.8 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Jerusalem and Union Vale 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% |
7.7% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.2% NY: 54.3% |
87.8% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 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 |
40 minHighest 24% above NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
16.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±5.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Jerusalem and Union Vale 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 | — | — | #89 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | ARLINGTON 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.