Compare towns
Independence vs Russia vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Independence has the most affordable homes ($101k median).
Russia has the most people working from home (6.2%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Independence | Russia | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 756Lowest |
2,272Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY |
43.9±2.9 10% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Russia and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7% |
| Independence and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY |
$86,116±$17kHighest about the NY average |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Russia and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Russia and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $609±$84Lowest 62% below NY |
$888±$325Highest 45% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Russia and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606Lowest 60% below NY |
$2,939 55% below NY |
$3,037Highest 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NY: 54.3% |
89.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1959Lowest same as NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Russia and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.