Compare towns
Java vs Sheldon vs Champion vs Arcade
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).
Champion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).
Arcade has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Champion | Arcade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,216 |
4,530Highest |
4,210 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
40±3Lowest about the NY average |
46±3.7 16% above NY |
| Sheldon and Arcade 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% |
21.3%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.3%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Champion 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% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
17%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Arcade 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% |
21.2% NY: 40.2% |
23.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Arcade 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 |
$56,875±$13kLowest 34% below NY |
$62,011±$8k 28% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon 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 |
$198,900±$16k 53% below NY |
$163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY |
| Java and Champion 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 |
$1,054±$255Highest 35% below NY |
$813±$152Lowest 50% below NY |
| Champion and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,247 51% below NY |
$4,172Highest 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
47.3%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
40.4%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Champion 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% |
19%Highest NY: 14% |
11.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
53.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
73.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer 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 |
20 minLowest 38% below NY |
29 min 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
6.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Champion 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 | — | — | #309 of 484 in NY | #260 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.