Compare towns
Sheldon vs Lyndeborough vs Proctor
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Lyndeborough | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
1,616Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50±3.2Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Lyndeborough and Proctor 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Proctor 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% |
40.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyndeborough and Proctor 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$390,900±$26kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,482±$457Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Lyndeborough 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. |
$7,133Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±90Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Proctor 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.