Compare towns
Java vs Sheldon vs Independence
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 people working from home (9%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Independence has the most affordable homes ($101k 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 | Independence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,216Highest |
756Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
41.9±5.9Lowest 5% 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% |
21.2%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Independence 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% |
18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Java 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% NY: 40.2% |
12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Independence 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 |
$68,750±$15kLowest 20% 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 |
$100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY |
| Java and Sheldon 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 |
$2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
20%±29.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Independence 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% |
6.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
29 min 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.