What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dayton has the most people working from home (13.6%).

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	Dayton
People
Population	2,216Highest	1,829Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Sheldon and Dayton 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%	23.7%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	18.5%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7%
	Dayton 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	$68,553±$10kLowest 20% below NY
	Sheldon and Dayton 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	$111,700±$13kLowest 74% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY	$907±$192Highest 44% below NY
	Dayton 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	$3,161Highest 52% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	26%±17.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Dayton 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%	18.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	82.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1954Lowest 5 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	35 minHighest 6% above NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.6%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9%
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.