Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bow vs Proctor vs Fair Haven
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 most homeowners (89%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Bow | Proctor | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
8,335Highest |
1,794Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Proctor and Bow 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Sheldon 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Fair Haven 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% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Fair Haven 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17k 37% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Bow 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% |
16.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bow School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.