Compare towns
Sheldon vs Persia vs Bennington
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%).
Persia has the most affordable homes ($100k median).
Bennington has the most people working from home (10.5%).
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 | Persia | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,048Lowest |
3,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
41.7±15Lowest 5% above NY |
46.7±5.8 17% above NY |
| Sheldon and Bennington 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% |
20.7%±5.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Persia and Bennington 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% |
24.1%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Persia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.7% NY: 40.2% |
12.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$54,495±$8kLowest 37% below NY |
$89,050±$10kHighest 4% above NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$100,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY |
$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84 50% below NY |
$765±$65Lowest 53% below NY |
$942±$344Highest 42% below NY |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,037 54% below NY |
$2,655Lowest 60% below NY |
$4,591Highest 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3 NY: 52.1% |
56.1%±16Highest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Persia 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% |
21.9%Highest NY: 14% |
8%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 minLowest 18% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
4.2%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Persia 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 | 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.