Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bow vs Williamstown 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).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Sheldon | Bow | Williamstown | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
8,335Highest |
3,579 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Williamstown 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Bow 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Williamstown 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% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Williamstown 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Bow 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. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Williamstown 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bow School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.