What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rumney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.2%).

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	Rumney	Sheldon
People
Population	1,458Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Rumney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sheldon and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rumney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,444±$21kHighest about the U.S. average	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
	Rumney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Rumney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,716Highest 51% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rumney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	14.4%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rumney and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rumney School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None 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.