Compare towns

Sheldon vs Java vs Bennington vs Newport

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Java has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bennington has the most people working from home (10.5%).
Newport has the oldest population (median age 49.6).

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.

MeasureSheldonJavaBenningtonNewport
People
Population
2,216
2,049
3,220Highest
1,740Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-3.7%
NY: +4.2%
-7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.9±7.6
23% above NY
44.2±5.5Lowest
11% above NY
46.7±5.8
17% above NY
49.6±6.9Highest
25% above NY
Newport 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%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.5%±4.9
NY: 20.5%
20%±5.1
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%±3.2
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
22.4%±4.5
NY: 17.9%
25.4%±4.2Highest
NY: 17.9%
Newport 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%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%
NY: 40.2%
26%Highest
NY: 40.2%
19.2%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
2.5%±1.7Lowest
NY: 7%
5.2%±3Highest
NY: 7%
Newport 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
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$89,050±$10k
4% above NY
$79,727±$12k
7% below 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
$223,900±$30k
47% below NY
$244,400±$24kHighest
42% below NY
$193,300±$12k
54% below NY
Bennington 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
$863±$419
47% below NY
$942±$344Highest
42% below NY
$768±$19Lowest
53% below NY
Bennington and Java 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
$3,775
43% below NY
$4,591Highest
30% below NY
$3,151
52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
27.4%±29
NY: 52.1%
27.9%±30.9
NY: 52.1%
Sheldon and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.8%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
8%
NY: 14%
15%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
90.7%
NY: 54.3%
83.9%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1969Highest
10 yrs newer than NY
1962
3 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
about the NY average
27 minLowest
17% below NY
33 min
about the NY average
31 min
5% below NY
Work from home
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
10.5%±4.9Highest
NY: 14.9%
7.4%±3.2
NY: 14.9%
Bennington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — — WEST CANADA VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — — WEST CANADA VALLEY JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
8.9
On TownTapestry
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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.