Compare towns
Java vs Newcomb vs Wayne 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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Newcomb | Wayne | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
490Lowest |
1,033 |
2,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
— | -3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
59.1±10.1 48% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
| Wayne and Newcomb 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% |
9.4%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Sheldon 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% |
31.4%±6.7 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
| Wayne and Newcomb 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% |
34.9% NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
13.3%±5Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$108,750±$25kHighest 26% above NY |
$90,938±$17k 6% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
| Newcomb 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 |
$254,800±$47k 40% below NY |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Wayne and Newcomb 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 |
— | $1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Wayne 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 |
$1,488Lowest 77% below NY |
$3,967Highest 40% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NY: 14% |
2.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2% NY: 54.3% |
91% NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Newcomb and Wayne 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.