Compare towns
Wales vs Java vs Bennington vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Bennington has the most people working from home (10.5%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
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 | Wales | Java | Bennington | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,015 |
2,049Lowest |
3,220Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% 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 | 25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
26%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest 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 | $88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% 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 | $244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,400±$24k 42% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
| Wales and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$503Highest 41% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Wales and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,782Highest 27% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,591 30% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Java 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 | IROQUOIS 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.