Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brasher vs Java vs Wales
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Wales has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,592 |
2,049Lowest |
3,015Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.1% 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 |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
| 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% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.5%±5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brasher 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% NY: 40.2% |
25.4%Highest 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% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
| Java and Wales 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY |
| Wales and Java 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±$419 47% below NY |
$950±$503Highest 41% below NY |
| Wales 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 |
$2,500Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,782Highest 27% 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% |
20.5%±27.8 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% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
75.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% 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 |
1971 12 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 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Wales 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 | — | #321 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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.