Compare towns
Troy vs Lancaster vs Sheldon 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
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).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 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 | Troy | Lancaster | Sheldon | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,267 |
1,794 |
| 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% |
+1.3% 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. |
42.4±6.4 9% 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% |
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+ | 17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Lancaster 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 |
$74,167±$12k 8% below U.S. |
| 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±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% 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. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Proctor and Lancaster 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% |
16.2% 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% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% 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% |
9.4%±4.6 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.



