What stands out worked out from the figures below

Altona has the most kids (19.1% under 18).

Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Altona	Sheldon
People
Population	2,490Highest	2,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40±5Lowest about the NY average	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY
	Sheldon and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Altona and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.2%±0.7Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below NY	$71,214±$5kHighest 17% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$151,400±$26kLowest 64% below NY	$175,900±$14kHighest 58% below NY
	Sheldon and Altona are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$997±$182Highest 38% below NY	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY
	Altona and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,687Lowest 74% below NY	$3,037Highest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Altona and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest NY: 14%	11.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 16% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	2.3%±2.1Highest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Altona and Sheldon 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

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.