Compare towns
Canterbury vs Hampton Falls 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
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Canterbury | Hampton Falls | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Highest |
2,328 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Canterbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Hampton Falls 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.