Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bennington vs Proctor 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
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bennington has the most renters (25.7% rent).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Bennington | Proctor | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,588Lowest |
1,794 |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Fairfield 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% |
15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Proctor and Bennington 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 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 | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Contoocook Valley School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
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| 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.