What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leyden has the most affordable homes ($173k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Leyden	Sheldon
People
Population	1,661Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±3.8Highest 12% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Leyden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sheldon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sheldon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,474±$21kLowest 26% below U.S.	$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
	Sheldon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$173,100±$23kLowest 48% below U.S.	$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$721±$37Lowest 49% below U.S.	$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,412Lowest 23% below U.S.	$3,578Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±15.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.