What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (13.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Nelson	Sheldon
People
Population	1,765Lowest	2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY
	Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±8Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Nelson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Nelson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,063±$18kHighest 5% below NY	$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY
	Nelson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,000±$18kHighest 46% below NY	$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY	$818±$84Highest 50% below NY
	Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,990Highest 39% below NY	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	11.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 13% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	13.8%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.