Compare towns

Java vs Sheldon vs Brasher vs Barrington

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 highest household income ($95k).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Barrington has the most kids (27.3% under 18).

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.

MeasureJavaSheldonBrasherBarrington
People
Population
2,049
2,216
2,592Highest
1,794Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%
NY: +4.2%
+4.6%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-8.3%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
46.6±9
17% above NY
44.8±3.4
13% above NY
Sheldon and Brasher 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%
18.4%±6.2
NY: 20.5%
27.3%±3.4Highest
NY: 20.5%
Barrington 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%
25%±3.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
23.5%±5
NY: 17.9%
22.1%±2.1
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon and Brasher 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%
13.7%
NY: 40.2%
10.6%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
29%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
4.4%±2.2Highest
NY: 7%
0.9%±1.3Lowest
NY: 7%
Brasher 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
$71,214±$5k
17% below NY
$53,911±$14kLowest
37% below NY
$90,938±$16k
6% above NY
Java and Barrington 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
$175,900±$14k
58% below NY
$124,300±$24kLowest
71% below NY
$255,800±$32kHighest
40% below NY
Barrington 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
$818±$84
50% below NY
$730±$195Lowest
55% below NY
$1,574±$667Highest
about the NY average
Barrington 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
$2,500Lowest
62% below NY
$3,463
47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3
NY: 52.1%
74.3%±27.2Highest
NY: 52.1%
10.3%±84.7
NY: 52.1%
Brasher and Sheldon 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%
22.4%Highest
NY: 14%
5.9%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
75.4%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
93.2%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
1978Highest
19 yrs newer than NY
1977
18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% below NY
33 minHighest
about the NY average
20 min
37% below NY
19 minLowest
43% below NY
Work from home
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6
NY: 14.9%
1.9%±1.8Lowest
NY: 14.9%
11.7%±3.7Highest
NY: 14.9%
Barrington and Java 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 — — #300 of 484 in NY —
School district — — BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
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.