Compare towns
Java vs Lebanon vs Nelson 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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.5%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Sheldon has the most renters (18.4% rent).
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 | Lebanon | Nelson | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,422Lowest |
1,765 |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
45.6±3.5 15% above NY |
47.2±6.2 19% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Nelson 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% |
21.8%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.1%±8 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lebanon 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% |
24.4%±5.2 NY: 17.9% |
19.7%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Lebanon 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% |
29.8% NY: 40.2% |
46.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Nelson 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 |
$67,212±$9kLowest 22% below NY |
$82,063±$18k 5% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Nelson 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 |
$127,600±$28kLowest 70% below NY |
$230,000±$18kHighest 46% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Nelson and Java 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 |
$1,008±$83Highest 38% below NY |
$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Lebanon 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 |
$3,630 45% below NY |
$3,990Highest 39% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
48.3%±20 NY: 52.1% |
22.2%±40.6 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Lebanon 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% |
24.2%Highest NY: 14% |
7.8% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.8% NY: 54.3% |
86.3% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1967Highest 8 yrs newer than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
29 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Nelson 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.