What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Independence has the most affordable homes ($101k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sheldon	Independence
People
Population	2,216Highest	756Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY
	Sheldon and Independence 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%	21.2%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Independence 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%	18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%
	Independence 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	$68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY
	Sheldon and Independence 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	$100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Highest 50% below NY	$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,037Highest 54% below NY	$2,606Lowest 60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Independence 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%	6.3%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	83.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	29 minLowest 10% below NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sheldon and Independence 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.