Compare towns
Sheldon vs Durham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($245k median).
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 | Durham | Sanford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,641Highest |
2,130Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
-7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
48.8±5.1 23% above NY |
48.7±6.6Lowest 22% 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%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±3.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Sanford and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±7Lowest 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% |
28.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
17.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
4.6%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Sanford 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±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY |
$76,724±$6k 11% below NY |
| Durham and Sanford 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 |
$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY |
$140,900±$21kLowest 67% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84 50% below NY |
$994±$844Highest 39% below NY |
$792±$88Lowest 51% 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 |
$3,378 49% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
19.3%±40.8Lowest 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% NY: 14% |
4.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
92%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min about the NY average |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 minLowest 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.3%±5.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Durham and Sanford 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 | — | #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 | 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.