Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brasher vs Java vs Strykersville
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 the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Brasher has the most affordable homes ($124k median).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Strykersville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Strykersville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,592Highest |
2,049 |
665Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
46.6±9 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.9±22.5Lowest about the NY average |
| Sheldon and Brasher 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.2%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Strykersville and Java 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% |
26.6%±7.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Strykersville 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% |
21% 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% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$74,615±$21k 13% below NY |
| Java and Strykersville 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 |
$185,700±$39k 56% below NY |
| Java and Strykersville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84 50% below NY |
$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$858±$65 47% below NY |
| Java and Strykersville 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 |
$2,753 58% 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% |
65.1%±33.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher and Strykersville 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% |
8.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
75.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
72.4%Lowest 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 |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
20 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
25 min 23% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
1.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| 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.