What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lapeer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Sheldon has the highest household income ($71k).

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	Lapeer	Sheldon
People
Population	718Lowest	2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.8±10.2Lowest 20% above NY	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY
	Sheldon and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lapeer and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±9.1Highest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lapeer and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,955±$14kLowest 27% below NY	$71,214±$5kHighest 17% below NY
	Sheldon and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,600±$48kLowest 62% below NY	$175,900±$14kHighest 58% below NY
	Sheldon and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$435Highest 39% below NY	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY
	Lapeer and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,109Highest 53% below NY	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±32.8Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest NY: 14%	11.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6% NY: 54.3%	81.6% NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	2.3%±2.9Highest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Lapeer 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.