Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Exeter vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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.
| Measure | Proctor | Sheldon | Exeter | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794Lowest |
2,267 |
16,151Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Sheldon 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.