What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Centerville
People
Population	2,216Highest	700Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+13%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	16.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Centerville 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	$83,000±$21kHighest 3% below NY
	Centerville 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	$119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY
	Sheldon and Centerville 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	$556±$489Lowest 66% below NY
	Sheldon and Centerville 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	$2,981Lowest 55% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	23.1%±52.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Centerville 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%	23.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	30 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	9.4%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Centerville 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.