Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bedford 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
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Sheldon | Bedford | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
23,746Highest |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bedford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bedford School District | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.