What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sylvan Beach has the most people working from home (10.1%).

Sheldon has the most kids (14.9% 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.

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

Measure	Sylvan Beach	Sheldon
People
Population	881Lowest	2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±7.9Highest 39% above NY	48.9±7.6Lowest 23% above NY
	Sylvan Beach and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.5%±6Lowest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Sheldon and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Sheldon and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,000±$27kLowest 34% below NY	$71,214±$5kHighest 17% below NY
	Sheldon and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$180,100±$24kHighest 58% below NY	$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY
	Sylvan Beach and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,008±$181Highest 38% below NY	$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY
	Sylvan Beach and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,211Highest 36% below NY	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±31.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Lowest NY: 14%	11.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	10.1%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sylvan Beach 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.