Compare towns
Sheldon vs Sunapee vs Highgate 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).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,416 |
3,528Highest |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Highgate 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% 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 | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Proctor and Sunapee 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Sunapee School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.8 |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.