What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($176k median).

Brasher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Brasher
People
Population	2,216Lowest	2,592Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	46.6±9Lowest 17% above NY
	Sheldon and Brasher 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%	18.4%±6.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Brasher 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%	23.5%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Brasher 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%	10.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7%
	Brasher 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±$5kHighest 17% below NY	$53,911±$14kLowest 37% below NY
	Sheldon and Brasher 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	$124,300±$24kLowest 71% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Highest 50% below NY	$730±$195Lowest 55% below NY
	Sheldon and Brasher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,037Highest 54% below NY	$2,500Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	74.3%±27.2Highest NY: 52.1%
	Brasher 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%	22.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	20 minLowest 37% below NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%	1.9%±1.8Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sheldon and Brasher 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	—	#300 of 484 in NY
School district	—	BRASHER FALLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
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.