Compare towns
Unity vs Sheldon vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Charlestown has the most affordable homes ($228k 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.
| Measure | Unity | Sheldon | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
2,267 |
4,889Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,143 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Unity 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 | — | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| 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.