Compare towns
Sheldon vs Central Square 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 the most homeowners (81.6%).
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Sanford has the most affordable homes ($141k median).
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 | Central Square | Sanford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,216Highest |
2,163 |
2,130Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
43.3±8Lowest 9% 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% |
19.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Sanford and Central Square 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 |
$69,500±$23kLowest 19% 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±$14k 58% below NY |
$196,000±$20kHighest 54% below NY |
$140,900±$21kLowest 67% below NY |
| Central Square and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84 50% below NY |
$908±$91Highest 44% below NY |
$792±$88Lowest 51% below NY |
| Central Square 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 |
$5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$3,378 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
44%±13.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
54%±22.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sanford 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% |
15.1% NY: 14% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
54.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±5.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Central Square and Sanford 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 | 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.