Compare towns
Java vs Sheldon vs Cherry Creek vs Seneca
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%).
Cherry Creek has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
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 | Cherry Creek | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,216 |
1,060Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
42.2±2.7Lowest 6% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above 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% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.2%±5.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Cherry Creek 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% |
16.7%±6.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 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% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 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 |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$57,058±$6kLowest 34% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above 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 |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$122,700±$19kLowest 71% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% 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 |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$741±$63Lowest 54% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% 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 |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,457Lowest 63% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
60.5%±100Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Cherry Creek 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% |
27.2%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
74.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | PINE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (SOUTH DAYTON) | — |
| High school in town | — | — | PINE VALLEY CENTRAL JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.6 |
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| 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.