Compare towns
Java vs Johnson City 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).
Johnson City has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Johnson City | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
14,940Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.7±3.4Lowest 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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.1%±2.6 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Johnson City 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% |
22.4%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Johnson City 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% |
29.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
9%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$56,283±$4kLowest 35% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon 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 |
$117,100±$4kLowest 72% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,031±$66Highest 36% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Johnson City 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 |
$3,982Highest 40% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
57.8%±10.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Johnson City 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% |
19.6%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
52.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1949Lowest 10 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
17 minLowest 49% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Johnson City and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.