Compare towns

Sheldon vs Solvay vs Ellenburg

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 the most expensive homes ($176k median).
Solvay has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ellenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

MeasureSheldonSolvayEllenburg
People
Population
2,216
6,544Highest
1,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+0.9%
NY: +4.2%
+5.7%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
48.9±7.6Highest
23% above NY
38.9±2.3Lowest
about the NY average
46.7±4.5
17% above NY
Sheldon and Ellenburg 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%
22.4%±3.9Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.8%±4.1
NY: 20.5%
Solvay and Ellenburg 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%
24.4%±3.8
NY: 17.9%
Sheldon and Ellenburg 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%
16.7%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±2.8
NY: 7%
6.9%±2.5Highest
NY: 7%
1.8%±0.9Lowest
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±$5k
17% below NY
$61,166±$7kLowest
29% below NY
$73,125±$10kHighest
15% below NY
Ellenburg 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
$150,000±$13k
65% below NY
$123,000±$16kLowest
71% 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±$84
50% below NY
$946±$77Highest
42% below NY
$801±$192Lowest
51% 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
$3,037
54% below NY
$4,459Highest
32% below NY
$2,412Lowest
63% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.9%±21.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
32.1%±9.2
NY: 52.1%
20.2%±15.7Lowest
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%
NY: 14%
6.9%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.4%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.6%
NY: 54.3%
51.3%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
83.3%Highest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
4 yrs newer than NY
1947Lowest
12 yrs older than NY
1973Highest
14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
about the NY average
19 minLowest
41% below NY
34 minHighest
4% above NY
Work from home
2.2%±1.6Lowest
NY: 14.9%
6.9%±3.2
NY: 14.9%
7.7%±4.2Highest
NY: 14.9%
Ellenburg and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — — NORTHERN ADIRONDACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — NORTHERN ADIRONDACK MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.5
On TownTapestry
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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.