What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	Orford	Sheldon
People
Population	1,295Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S.	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
	Orford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.	$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S.	$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest 87% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 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	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.