Compare towns

Chatham vs Nelson vs Roxbury vs Sullivan

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.

MeasureChathamNelsonRoxburySullivan
People
Population
430
648
299Lowest
687Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-13.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
—
-2.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
48.3±8.6Highest
12% above NH
42.3±11.7Lowest
about the NH average
43.2±17.7
about the NH average
46.6±6.5
8% above NH
Chatham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±7.4
NH: 18.2%
27.5%±6.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±11.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
16.3%±5
NH: 18.2%
Nelson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.5%±10Highest
NH: 20.1%
24.8%±2
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±10.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.5%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
Chatham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
NH: 40.6%
61.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.6%
NH: 40.6%
28.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±3.8
NH: 6%
0.9%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
13.4%±15.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
Roxbury and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,042±$19kLowest
33% below NH
$99,792±$23k
about the NH average
$69,226±$14k
30% below NH
$106,667±$20kHighest
8% above NH
Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,900±$42kHighest
10% below NH
$340,900±$49k
15% below NH
$323,100±$219k
20% below NH
$236,500±$29kLowest
41% below NH
Chatham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,203±$243Lowest
19% below NH
—
$1,225±$275Highest
18% below NH
Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,690Lowest
45% below NH
$5,575
16% below NH
$5,787Highest
13% below NH
$5,099
24% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±100
NH: 48.2%
40%±68.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
40%±84.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
8.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%
NH: 7.2%
4.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
90.2%
NH: 72.8%
95.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
same as NH
1975
4 yrs older than NH
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
1979Highest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
33% above NH
24 min
9% below NH
21 minLowest
22% below NH
32 min
20% above NH
Work from home
7.3%±5.4
NH: 16.8%
31.5%±8Highest
NH: 16.8%
0.7%±1.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
4.2%±2.5
NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district — Nelson School District — —
High school in town — None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.