What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).

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	Stoddard	Sheldon
People
Population	1,072Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53±4Highest 36% above U.S.	40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sheldon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Stoddard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S.	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
	Stoddard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Stoddard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S.
	Sheldon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 38% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Stoddard and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stoddard School District	Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.