What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Barre has the most people working from home (6.5%).

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	Barre
People
Population	2,216Highest	1,910Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	45.2±6.7Lowest 14% above NY
	Sheldon and Barre 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%	24.4%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	20.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	13%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%	0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY	$73,906±$14kHighest 14% below NY
	Barre 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	$135,900±$28kLowest 68% below NY
	Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY	$1,158±$208Highest 29% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY	$3,466Highest 47% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	60.7%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Barre and Sheldon 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%	23.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	21 minLowest 36% below NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.5%±2.8Highest NY: 14.9%
	Barre and Sheldon 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.