Compare towns
Providence vs Sheldon vs Forestport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Forestport has the most people working from home (15%).
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 | Providence | Sheldon | Forestport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,971 |
2,216Highest |
1,693Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±5.2Lowest 23% above NY |
48.9±7.6Lowest 23% above NY |
49±10.4Highest 23% above NY |
| Forestport and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.4 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.7%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Forestport and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
27.7%±2.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Forestport and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
0.4%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Providence and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,574±$16kHighest 8% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$72,813±$17k 15% below NY |
| Providence and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $270,500±$25kHighest 36% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$218,700±$28k 48% below NY |
| Providence and Forestport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,449±$383Highest 11% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
$621±$85Lowest 62% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,275Highest 50% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,435Lowest 63% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±50.8 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
19.2%±41.5Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
4.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY |
1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min about the NY average |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
31 minLowest 6% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.7%±2.7 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15%±8.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Forestport and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.