What stands out worked out from the figures below

Minerva has the oldest population (median age 56.2).

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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	Minerva	Sheldon
People
Population	836Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Minerva and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.	$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
	Sheldon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S.	$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S.	$3,578Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Minerva and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	11.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon and Minerva 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.