Compare towns
Java vs Solvay vs Sidney vs Sheldon
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).
Solvay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($122k median).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Solvay | Sidney | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
6,544Highest |
5,492 |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average |
41±6.1 3% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% 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% |
22.4%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.4%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Solvay and Sidney 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% |
19.1%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±3.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest 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% NY: 40.2% |
24% NY: 40.2% |
25.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Solvay 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 |
$61,166±$7k 29% below NY |
$52,347±$9kLowest 39% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% 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 |
$150,000±$13k 65% below NY |
$122,100±$14kLowest 71% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$946±$77Highest 42% below NY |
$898±$169 45% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Solvay and Sidney 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 |
$4,459Highest 32% below NY |
$3,329 49% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
32.1%±9.2 NY: 52.1% |
39.5%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Sidney 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% |
6.9% NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
55.3% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY |
1955 4 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 41% below NY |
24 min 25% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #228 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | SIDNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | SIDNEY HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.8 |
— |
| 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.