Compare towns
Sheldon vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Fairfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Windham | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
16,038Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Fairfield 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% |
15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.