Compare towns
Java vs Lysander vs Sheldon vs Russia
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%).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Lysander | Sheldon | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
23,086Highest |
2,216 |
2,272 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.6±1.9Lowest 10% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
43.9±2.9 10% 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% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Russia 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% |
17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Russia 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% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Lysander 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±$24k 11% above NY |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
| Lysander 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 |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$232,200±$44k 45% below NY |
| Lysander and Russia 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 |
$1,130±$100Highest 30% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
| Lysander and Russia 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 |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,939Lowest 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Lysander 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% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #158 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.4Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.