Compare towns
Java vs Lyons Falls vs Lyonsdale 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 people working from home (9%).
Lyons Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Lyonsdale has the most affordable homes ($111k 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 | Lyons Falls | Lyonsdale | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
569Lowest |
1,159 |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
42.5±15Lowest 7% above NY |
46.9±7.6 18% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Lyonsdale 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% |
24.8%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
23%±5 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons Falls and Lyonsdale 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% |
31.5%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.2%±4 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Lyons Falls 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% |
20.5% NY: 40.2% |
9.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 NY: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Java 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 |
$59,000±$18kLowest 31% below NY |
$61,806±$12k 28% 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 |
$119,400±$42k 72% below NY |
$111,000±$15kLowest 74% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$600±$137Lowest 63% below NY |
$838±$91 48% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Java and Lyonsdale 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 |
$2,076 68% below NY |
$1,979Lowest 70% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
61.8%±58.3 NY: 52.1% |
68.2%±39.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Lyonsdale and Lyons Falls 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% |
10.2% NY: 14% |
10.4% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84% NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
24 minLowest 27% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.9%±3.3 NY: 14.9% |
3.3%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Lyonsdale 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.