Compare towns
Java vs Sheldon vs Bainbridge vs Wethersfield
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).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Bainbridge has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Sheldon | Bainbridge | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,216 |
3,017Highest |
815Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.5% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
48.2±7.6 21% above NY |
46±4.4 16% above NY |
| Sheldon and Bainbridge 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% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wethersfield and Bainbridge 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% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Bainbridge 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% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.4% NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield 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 |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$60,391±$8kLowest 30% below NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
| Wethersfield 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±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$150,500±$32k 64% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$767±$237Lowest 53% below NY |
$916±$126Highest 43% below NY |
| Wethersfield 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 |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$3,712 44% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.1%±12 NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Bainbridge 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% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
86.2% NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 minLowest 32% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.5%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #332 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.