What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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	Holderness	Sheldon
People
Population	1,917Lowest	2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average	40.9±3.5Highest 5% above U.S.
	Sheldon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sheldon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Holderness and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S.	$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average
	Holderness and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,100±$60kHighest 9% above U.S.	$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S.
	Holderness and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S.	$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,923Highest 26% above U.S.	$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holderness and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sheldon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Holderness 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.