Compare towns

Java vs Providence 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%).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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.

MeasureJavaProvidenceSheldon
People
Population
2,049
1,971Lowest
2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
48.9±5.2Highest
23% above NY
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
Kids under 18
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
15.7%±3.4
NY: 20.5%
14.9%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Java and Providence 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%
18%±3.2Lowest
NY: 17.9%
25%±3.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon and Java 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%
28.9%Highest
NY: 40.2%
13.7%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4Lowest
NY: 7%
6.8%±2.9Highest
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
Providence 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
$92,574±$16k
8% above NY
$71,214±$5kLowest
17% below NY
Java and Providence 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
$270,500±$25kHighest
36% below NY
$175,900±$14kLowest
58% below NY
Providence 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
$1,449±$383Highest
11% below NY
$818±$84Lowest
50% below NY
Providence and Java 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
$3,275
50% below NY
$3,037Lowest
54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
27.9%±50.8
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
Sheldon and Providence 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%
11.1%
NY: 14%
11.8%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
94.7%
NY: 54.3%
81.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1993Highest
34 yrs newer than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
17% below NY
32 min
about the NY average
33 minHighest
about the NY average
Work from home
9%±4.4Highest
NY: 14.9%
5.7%±2.7
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
Java and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.