Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brasher vs Java vs Castile
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Castile has the most people working from home (9.7%).
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 | Brasher | Java | Castile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,592 |
2,049Lowest |
2,710Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
46.6±9 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
49.9±4.8Highest 25% above NY |
| Castile 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% |
18.4%±6.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.8%±4.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Castile 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% |
23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
26.5%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Castile 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% NY: 40.2% |
10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
18.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Brasher and Sheldon 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 |
$53,911±$14kLowest 37% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$65,625±$13k 24% 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 | $175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$124,300±$24kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$151,600±$15k 64% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84 50% below NY |
$730±$195 55% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$654±$105Lowest 60% 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 | $3,037 54% below NY |
$2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,019 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.5%±15.1 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% NY: 14% |
22.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
15.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
75.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1957 2 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.7%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Castile and Java 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 | — | #300 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | BRASHER FALLS 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.