Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bellmont vs Java
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Bellmont has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Java has the most people working from home (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 | Sheldon | Bellmont | Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,216Highest |
1,167Lowest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
54.6±2.7Highest 37% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
| Bellmont and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
15.6%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Bellmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
28.2%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bellmont and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 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 | $71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$70,250±$11kLowest 18% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above 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 | $175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$127,600±$20kLowest 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,131±$319Highest 30% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
| Bellmont and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,037 54% below NY |
$2,156Lowest 67% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
41.6%±22.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Bellmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
11.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.2% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
25 minLowest 23% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Bellmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.

