Compare towns
Sheldon vs Java vs Ellenburg 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).
Java has the most people working from home (9%).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Java | Ellenburg | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,049 |
1,992Lowest |
3,015Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
+0.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.7±4.5 17% above NY |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Ellenburg 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.4%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7 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% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
16.7% NY: 40.2% |
25.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.8%±0.9 NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Java 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 |
$73,125±$10k 15% below 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 |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$123,000±$16kLowest 71% 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 |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$801±$192Lowest 51% 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,412Lowest 63% below NY |
$4,782Highest 27% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20.2%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Wales 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% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83.3% NY: 54.3% |
88.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
34 minHighest 4% above NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Ellenburg 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 | — | — | — | #321 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| 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.