What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).

Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sheldon	Williamstown
People
Population	2,216Highest	1,522Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+4.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY	30.7±5Lowest 23% below NY
Kids under 18	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%	29.8%±11Highest NY: 20.5%
	Williamstown 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%	10.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	12.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%	1.8%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Williamstown 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	$62,170±$13kLowest 28% below NY
	Sheldon and Williamstown 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	$110,500±$19kLowest 74% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$818±$84Highest 50% below NY	$788±$129Lowest 51% below NY
	Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,037Highest 54% below NY	$2,121Lowest 68% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%	20%±43.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Lowest NY: 14%	16.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	84.5%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY	1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	36 minHighest 11% above NY
Work from home	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	5.1%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Williamstown 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.