Compare towns
Sheldon vs Freedom vs Java vs Ellenburg
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).
Freedom has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Freedom | Java | Ellenburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,483Highest |
2,049 |
1,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
43.2±7Lowest 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
| Sheldon and Ellenburg 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% |
18.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Ellenburg 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% |
16.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Ellenburg 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% |
15.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Freedom 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 |
$73,646±$24k 14% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$73,125±$10k 15% below NY |
| Java and Freedom 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 |
$176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$123,000±$16kLowest 71% below NY |
| Java and Freedom 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 |
$519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
$863±$419Highest 47% below NY |
$801±$192 51% 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 |
$3,443 48% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
10.1%±32.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83.3% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1973 14 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
28 min 15% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ellenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.5 |
| 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.