Compare towns
Exeter vs Sheldon vs Franklin vs Otsego
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Sheldon | Franklin | Otsego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
2,267 |
1,590 |
3,627Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the U.S. average |
$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165 15% 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
$4,702Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Otsego 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otsego and Franklin 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.