What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

Corning has the most affordable homes ($168k median).

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	Corning
People
Population	1,577Lowest	5,829Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.	41.6±3.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Sharon and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Corning and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$88,482±$10kHighest 10% above U.S.
	Corning and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S.	$167,600±$14kLowest 50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average	$1,289±$219Lowest 9% below U.S.
	Sharon and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Highest 89% above U.S.	$3,895Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39.1%±15Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Corning and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sharon and Corning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#393 of 484 in NY
School district	Sharon School District	CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	CORNING PAINTED POST HIGH SCHOOL LEARNING CENTER
Students per teacherat that high school	—	4.0
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.