Compare towns

Exeter vs Otsego vs Sheldon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Otsego has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).

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.

MeasureExeterOtsegoSheldon
People
Population
913Lowest
3,627Highest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.7±12.6
33% above U.S.
52.1±5.8Highest
34% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
Otsego and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±7.1
U.S.: 22%
12.1%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±10.5
U.S.: 17.2%
31.8%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Otsego and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$72,891±$16kLowest
10% below U.S.
$78,533±$25kHighest
about the U.S. average
Sheldon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
$352,600±$42kHighest
6% above U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
Otsego and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,205±$165
15% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
Sheldon and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$4,702Highest
51% above U.S.
$3,578
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.6%±17.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Otsego and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Otsego and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #65 of 484 in NY —
School district — COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town — COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.