Compare towns
Chatham vs Nelson vs Stoddard
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%).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Chatham | Nelson | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
648 |
1,072Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Chatham 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% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Stoddard 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±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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 |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% 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±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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 |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,316 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Stoddard School District |
| High school 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.