Compare towns

Java vs Sheldon vs Dayton vs Russia

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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Dayton has the most people working from home (13.6%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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.

MeasureJavaSheldonDaytonRussia
People
Population
2,049
2,216
1,829Lowest
2,272Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-1.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-10.4%
NY: +4.2%
-12.3%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
43.9±2.9Lowest
10% above NY
Sheldon and Java 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%
23.7%±3.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
21.3%±4.1
NY: 20.5%
Dayton and Russia 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%
17.5%±1.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
20.8%±3.7
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon and Russia 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%
18.5%
NY: 40.2%
28.5%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4Lowest
NY: 7%
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
3.9%±1.8Highest
NY: 7%
3.3%±1.7
NY: 7%
Dayton 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
$68,553±$10kLowest
20% below NY
$86,116±$17k
about the NY average
Java and Russia 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
$111,700±$13kLowest
74% below NY
$232,200±$44kHighest
45% below NY
Russia 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±$84Lowest
50% below NY
$907±$192Highest
44% below NY
$888±$325
45% below NY
Dayton and Russia 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
$3,161
52% below NY
$2,939Lowest
55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
26%±17.7
NY: 52.1%
31.1%±10.8
NY: 52.1%
Sheldon and Russia 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%
18.3%Highest
NY: 14%
9.1%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
81.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
82.8%
NY: 54.3%
89.7%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1963Highest
4 yrs newer than NY
1954Lowest
5 yrs older than NY
1959
same as NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
17% below NY
33 min
about the NY average
35 minHighest
6% above NY
33 min
about the NY average
Work from home
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
13.6%±6.7Highest
NY: 14.9%
6.2%±3.5
NY: 14.9%
Dayton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — — POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — — POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.6
On TownTapestry
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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.