What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berkshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

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	Berkshire	Sheldon
People
Population	1,263Lowest	2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39±3.2Lowest about the NY average	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY
	Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.7%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,881±$18kHighest 13% below NY	$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY
	Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$141,900±$20kLowest 67% below NY	$175,900±$14kHighest 58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,368±$126Highest 16% below NY	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,573Highest 46% below NY	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.2%±35.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest NY: 14%	11.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 6% above NY	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	3.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Berkshire 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.