Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Proctor vs Sheldon vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
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 | Lunenburg | Proctor | Sheldon | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,267Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 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 | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lunenburg and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | White Mountains 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.