Compare towns
Bath vs Nelson vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
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 | Bath | Nelson | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097Highest |
648Lowest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH |
| Lempster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
| Nelson and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$241,900±$29k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
— |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,558 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Bath School District | Nelson School District | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.