Compare towns
Java vs Oppenheim vs Seneca 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 expensive homes ($224k median).
Oppenheim has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Oppenheim | Seneca | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,796Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
46.7±7 17% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Oppenheim 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%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Oppenheim 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% |
22.5%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Oppenheim 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% |
13.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$69,148±$13kLowest 20% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$112,700±$7kLowest 73% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$864±$62 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,012 54% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
8.9%±37.3 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Oppenheim 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% |
15.7%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.2% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
28 min 15% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.2%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | OPPENHEIM-EPHRATAH-ST. JOHNSVILLE CSD | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| 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.