Compare towns
Sheldon vs Westford 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Westford has the most affordable homes ($175k median).
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 | Westford | Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,216Highest |
862Lowest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
48.7±8.1 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
| Sheldon and Westford 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% |
15.5%±2.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Westford 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% |
26.5%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Westford 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% |
23% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Westford 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 |
$65,625±$18kLowest 24% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
| Java and Sheldon 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 |
$175,000±$27kLowest 59% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
— | $863±$419Highest 47% 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 |
$2,644Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
24.3%±38.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Westford 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% |
7.9% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 min 14% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
7.5%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.