What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most homeowners (81.6%).

Solvay has the most people working from home (6.9%).

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	Solvay
People
Population	2,216Lowest	6,544Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+0.9%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	22.4%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Solvay 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%	19.1%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Solvay 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%	24%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 7%	6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7%
	Solvay 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	$61,166±$7kLowest 29% below NY
	Sheldon and Solvay 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	$150,000±$13kLowest 65% below NY
	Sheldon and Solvay 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	$946±$77Highest 42% below NY
	Solvay 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	$4,459Highest 32% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	32.1%±9.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Solvay 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%	6.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY	1947Lowest 12 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	19 minLowest 41% below NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.9%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Solvay 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.