Compare towns
Sheldon vs Lancaster 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 most people working from home (13%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Fairfield has the most expensive homes ($321k 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 | Lancaster | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
2,230 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±2.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Fairfield 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% |
23.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% 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±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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. |
$4,225 35% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Lancaster 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.