Compare towns
Java vs Lapeer vs Sardinia 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).
Lapeer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Sardinia has the most people working from home (10.2%).
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 | Lapeer | Sardinia | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
718Lowest |
2,703Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.8±10.2 20% above NY |
42.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Lapeer 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% |
20.8%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Lapeer 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% |
29.5%±9.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Lapeer and Sheldon 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% |
19.2% NY: 40.2% |
21.7% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Sardinia 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 |
$62,955±$14kLowest 27% below NY |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia 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 |
$160,600±$48kLowest 62% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia 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 |
$993±$435Highest 39% below NY |
$855±$83 47% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Lapeer 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 |
$3,109 53% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44.7%±32.8 NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Lapeer 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% |
16.9%Highest NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 min 10% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Sardinia 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 | 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.