What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).

Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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	Providence
People
Population	2,216Highest	1,971Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6 23% above NY	48.9±5.2 23% above NY
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.7%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Providence 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%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	28.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	6.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7%
	Providence 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	$92,574±$16kHighest 8% above NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY	$270,500±$25kHighest 36% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY	$1,449±$383Highest 11% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY	$3,275Highest 50% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	27.9%±50.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Providence 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%	11.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	94.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	32 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.7%±2.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Providence 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.