What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheridan has the most affordable homes ($193k median).

Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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	Sheridan	Benton
People
Population	2,529Lowest	2,948Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.2±8.7Highest 19% above NY	40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average
	Sheridan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5%	30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.2%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%	24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Benton and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.9%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Sheridan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,083±$13kHighest about the NY average	$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY
	Sheridan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,900±$17kLowest 54% below NY	$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY
	Benton and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$861±$64Lowest 47% below NY	$1,541±$628Highest 5% below NY
	Benton and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,651Highest 45% below NY	$3,391Lowest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±28.2Highest NY: 52.1%	14.5%±10.3Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheridan and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NY: 14%	19.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93%Highest NY: 54.3%	75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Lowest same as NY	1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 26% below NY	23 minLowest 30% below NY
Work from home	9.2%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Benton and Sheridan 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.