Compare towns
Lancaster vs Proctor vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Proctor has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
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 | Lancaster | Proctor | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,230 |
1,794Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Proctor and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.