Compare towns
Bath vs New Hampton vs Nelson
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 most affordable homes ($234k median).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | New Hampton | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
2,509Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| New Hampton 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% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest 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%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and New Hampton 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% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and New Hampton 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 |
$383,700±$37kHighest 5% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| New Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,203±$243 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 |
$4,973 25% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and New Hampton 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Bath School District | Newfound Area School District | Nelson 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.