Compare towns
Nelson vs Sheldon vs Covert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the highest household income ($82k).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Covert has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).
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 | Nelson | Sheldon | Covert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,765Lowest |
2,216Highest |
2,004 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
50.4±4.3Highest 27% above NY |
| Covert and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±8 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.1%±4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Covert and Nelson 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%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±2.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Covert and Sheldon 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% |
40.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
1.9%±1Lowest 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 |
$75,688±$16k 12% below NY |
| Nelson and Covert 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 |
$227,200±$48k 46% below NY |
| Nelson and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $773±$328Lowest 52% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$1,257±$236Highest 22% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,990Highest 39% below NY |
$3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,724 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
42.9%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Covert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
7.6%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
83.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 2 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1942Lowest 17 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.9 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.5%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Covert and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | SOUTH SENECA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.