Compare towns
Sheldon vs Cairo vs Bennington 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 the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Cairo has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Cairo | Bennington | Java |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,216 |
6,700Highest |
3,220 |
2,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±4.2Lowest 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
| Sheldon and Bennington 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% |
17.9%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Bennington 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% |
22.9%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Cairo 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% |
28.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Cairo 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±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$79,643±$22k 7% below NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Java and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$263,400±$18kHighest 38% below NY |
$244,400±$24k 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
| Cairo and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,015±$305Highest 37% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
| Cairo and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$4,246 35% below NY |
$4,591Highest 30% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
45.1%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Cairo 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% |
10.5% NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
29 min 13% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Cairo and Bennington 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 | — | #461 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | CAIRO-DURHAM 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.