Sherman, New York Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 590, Sherman's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Sherman is a small community located in New York, within Chautauqua County. The total population is 590. It ranks as the 1017th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sherman is 36.8 years. This is 8% lower than the state median of 39.8 years. With 29.7% of the population under 18, Sherman has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sherman is $46,346. This is 46% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.0%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 54% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $109,500. Housing costs are 74% lower than the state median of $423,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Sherman is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 54.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sherman has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.3% of all residents. Asian residents account for 1.0%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.3% vs 52.8%). The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 9.0%.

Education

19.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 52% lower than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Sherman, New York is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.