Compare towns
Sheldon vs Afton vs Sanford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Afton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sanford has the most people working from home (10.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Afton | Sanford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,733Highest |
2,130Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
47.6±6.3Lowest 20% above NY |
48.7±6.6 22% above NY |
| Sheldon and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Sanford and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sanford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.7% NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
17.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Sanford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
$76,724±$6kHighest 11% below NY |
| Sanford and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $175,900±$14kHighest 58% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$140,900±$21k 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84 50% below NY |
$826±$212Highest 49% below NY |
$792±$88Lowest 51% below NY |
| Afton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,037Lowest 54% below NY |
$3,395Highest 48% below NY |
$3,378 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
54%±22.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Sanford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.1% NY: 14% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±5.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Sanford and Afton 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 | — | #418 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.7 |
— |
| 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.