Compare towns
Java vs Sheldon vs Collins 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Collins has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Barrington has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Collins | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,216 |
4,643Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-8.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
40.5±6.2Lowest about the NY average |
44.8±3.4 13% above NY |
| Sheldon and Barrington 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% |
24.4%±6.6 NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Barrington and Collins 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% |
21.3%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Barrington 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% |
16.3% NY: 40.2% |
29%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 NY: 7% |
0.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$60,905±$5kLowest 29% 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 |
$153,000±$11kLowest 64% 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 |
$799±$90Lowest 51% 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 |
$2,501Lowest 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% |
59.4%±38.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
10.3%±84.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Collins 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%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
82.2% NY: 54.3% |
93.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1950Lowest 9 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 |
24 min 26% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11%±5 NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Barrington and Collins 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 | — | — | #467 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | GOWANDA 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.