Compare towns
Charlestown vs Nelson vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (-6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Charlestown | Nelson | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,889Highest |
648Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Unity and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Charlestown and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
| Nelson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
| Nelson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,143Lowest 23% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Charlestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nelson School District | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
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.