What stands out worked out from the figures below

Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Centerville	Sheldon
People
Population	700Lowest	2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY
Kids under 18	34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,000±$21kHighest 3% below NY	$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY
	Centerville and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY	$175,900±$14kHighest 58% below NY
	Sheldon and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$556±$489Lowest 66% below NY	$818±$84Highest 50% below NY
	Sheldon and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,981Lowest 55% below NY	$3,037Highest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.1%±52.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.7%Highest NY: 14%	11.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	9.4%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Centerville 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.