What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the oldest population (median age 40.5).

Root has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).

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.

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

Measure	Sharon	Root
People
Population	1,656Lowest	1,963Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+17.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±4.1Highest about the NY average	32.8±6.1Lowest 18% below NY
	Sharon and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	33.6%±6Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	17.5%±2Highest NY: 17.9%	10.4%±2.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	3.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Sharon and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,095±$11kLowest 21% below NY	$75,771±$6kHighest 12% below NY
	Root and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$174,600±$25kLowest 59% below NY	$209,000±$29kHighest 51% below NY
	Root and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,132±$161Highest 30% below NY	$742±$310Lowest 54% below NY
	Sharon and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,255Lowest 51% below NY	$3,795Highest 42% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.3%±14.9Highest NY: 52.1%	14.7%±36.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sharon and Root are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.2%Highest NY: 14%	6.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%	88.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 7% below NY	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	8.7%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.8%±5.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Root and Sharon 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

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.