What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has the most people working from home (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	Durham
People
Population	2,216Lowest	2,641Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY
	Sheldon and Durham 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%	18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
	Durham 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%	24.2%±7Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Durham 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%	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Durham 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	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY
	Durham 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±$14kLowest 58% below NY	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY
	Durham 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	$3,728Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	19.3%±40.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest NY: 14%	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#100 of 484 in NY
School district	—	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.9
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.