Compare towns
Bath vs Nelson vs Woodsville
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 the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Woodsville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
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 | Woodsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
648Lowest |
1,422Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
32±10.4Lowest 26% below NH |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.8%±10.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Woodsville 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%±2 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±6.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
10.8%±10Highest NH: 6% |
| Woodsville 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±$22k 32% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$57,946±$27kLowest 41% below NH |
| Nelson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 42% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$228,000±$15kLowest 43% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,119±$68Lowest 25% 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 |
$4,425 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
63.5%±29.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Woodsville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
40.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Bath School District | Nelson School District | — |
| High school 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.