What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheridan has the most people working from home (9.2%).

Dunkirk has the shortest commute (14 min average).

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	Dunkirk
People
Population	2,529Highest	1,169Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-5.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.2±8.7Lowest 19% above NY	58.9±8.8Highest 48% above NY
	Dunkirk and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%	10%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Sheridan and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.2%±5Lowest NY: 17.9%	42.4%±7Highest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.8Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±1Lowest NY: 7%
	Sheridan and Dunkirk 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	$67,045±$18kLowest 22% below NY
	Sheridan and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,900±$17kHighest 54% below NY	$167,100±$40kLowest 61% below NY
	Sheridan and Dunkirk 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	$956±$553Highest 41% below NY
	Dunkirk 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	$2,730Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±28.2Highest NY: 52.1%	37.1%±26.8Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sheridan and Dunkirk 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%	8.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93%Highest NY: 54.3%	84%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest same as NY	1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 26% below NY	14 minLowest 56% below NY
Work from home	9.2%±4.7Highest NY: 14.9%	2.4%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sheridan and Dunkirk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#465 of 484 in NY
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.