What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most renters (18.4% rent).

Hopewell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Hopewell
People
Population	2,216Lowest	3,906Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	46±4.2Lowest 16% above NY
	Sheldon and Hopewell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%	22.8%±5.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Hopewell 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%	26.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	10.1%±1.9Highest NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY	$84,358±$23kHighest about the NY average
	Hopewell 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	$171,800±$33kLowest 59% below NY
	Sheldon and Hopewell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY	$1,290±$518Highest 20% below NY
	Hopewell 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	$4,094Highest 38% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	24%±27.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Hopewell 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%	8.5%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	90.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	17 minLowest 47% below NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	2.9%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hopewell 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.