What stands out worked out from the figures below

Carthage has the most kids (31.5% under 18).

Sheldon has the most homeowners (81.6%).

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	Carthage	Sheldon
People
Population	3,510Highest	2,216Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	27.3±5.6Lowest 31% below NY	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY
Kids under 18	31.5%±6.3Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	10.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±3.8Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Carthage and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,125±$9kLowest 32% below NY	$71,214±$5kHighest 17% below NY
	Sheldon and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$131,200±$22kLowest 69% below NY	$175,900±$14kHighest 58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$913±$91Highest 44% below NY	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY
	Carthage and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,943Lowest 55% below NY	$3,037Highest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.6%±13Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Carthage are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest NY: 14%	11.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 15% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	2%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sheldon and Carthage 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.