Compare towns
Bennington vs Proctor vs Sheldon vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Troy has the highest household income ($89k).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Proctor | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267Highest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Proctor and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Troy and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$266,600±$39k 20% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,229 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.