Compare towns
Java vs Seneca vs Sheldon vs Williamstown
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).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
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 | Seneca | Sheldon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,622Highest |
2,216 |
1,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+4.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
30.7±5Lowest 23% below NY |
| Sheldon and Seneca 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% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
29.8%±11Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Williamstown and Java 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% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Seneca 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% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
12.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$62,170±$13kLowest 28% 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 |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$110,500±$19kLowest 74% 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 |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$788±$129Lowest 51% below NY |
| Seneca 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 |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,121Lowest 68% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
20%±43.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
36 minHighest 11% above NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
5.1%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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.