Compare towns
Sheldon vs Wayne 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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Bennington has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,216 |
1,033Lowest |
3,220Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY |
46.7±5.8Lowest 17% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.5%±4.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.4%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
42.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
26% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Bennington 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 |
$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
| Wayne and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY |
$244,400±$24k 42% below NY |
| Wayne and Bennington 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 |
$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
| Wayne and Bennington 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 |
$3,967 40% below NY |
$4,591Highest 30% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
38.9%±100 NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Wayne 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% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.8%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
28 minLowest 13% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9.3%±4.2 NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Bennington and Wayne 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.