Compare towns

Troy vs Lancaster vs Sheldon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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.

MeasureTroyLancasterSheldon
People
Population
1,749Lowest
3,216Highest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±5.7
14% above U.S.
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,938±$11kHighest
9% above U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
$78,533±$25k
about the U.S. average
Troy and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$233,200±$21k
30% below U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
$272,400±$61kHighest
18% below U.S.
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
$1,019±$263
28% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
Sheldon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,644
17% above U.S.
$4,226Highest
35% above U.S.
$3,578Lowest
15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±26.3
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lancaster and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Highest
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 Troy School District White Mountains Regional School District Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town None 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.