What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Sharon has the oldest population (median age 40.5).

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	Bethany	Sharon
People
Population	1,754Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-8.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.8±3.9Lowest about the NY average	40.5±4.1Highest about the NY average
	Sharon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.9%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5%	23.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Bethany and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.9%±1.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Sharon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±2.1Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Sharon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,859±$16kHighest 12% below NY	$68,095±$11kLowest 21% below NY
	Bethany and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,600±$14kLowest 60% below NY	$174,600±$25kHighest 59% below NY
	Sharon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$887±$196Lowest 45% below NY	$1,132±$161Highest 30% below NY
	Sharon and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,205Highest 36% below NY	$3,255Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±28.7Highest NY: 52.1%	22.3%±14.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Bethany and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Lowest NY: 14%	16.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 14% below NY	30 minHighest 7% below NY
Work from home	11.8%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%	8.7%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Bethany and Sharon 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.