Compare towns
Carroll vs Nelson vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Carroll | Nelson | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659Highest |
648 |
567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
58.1±9.7 34% above NH |
| Carroll and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
8.6%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.4%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Carroll and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±5Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookfield and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$81,406±$31k 18% below NH |
| Nelson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$428,000±$61kHighest 6% above NH |
| Brookfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
— |
| Nelson and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,926Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Nelson and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.