What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

Bainbridge has the most people working from home (8.5%).

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	Sheldon	Bainbridge
People
Population	2,216Lowest	3,017Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	48.2±7.6Lowest 21% above NY
	Sheldon and Bainbridge 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%	20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 20.5%
	Bainbridge and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	21.2%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	24.4%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,214±$5kHighest 17% below NY	$60,391±$8kLowest 30% below NY
	Sheldon and Bainbridge 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	$150,500±$32kLowest 64% below NY
	Sheldon and Bainbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Highest 50% below NY	$767±$237Lowest 53% below NY
	Sheldon and Bainbridge 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	$3,712Highest 44% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	41.1%±12Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Bainbridge 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%	12.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	22 minLowest 32% below NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.5%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#332 of 484 in NY
School district	—	BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.9
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.