Compare towns
Sheldon vs Sunapee 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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Sunapee | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,416Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Fairfield 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. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Sunapee 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Sunapee School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.