Compare towns
Croydon vs Nelson vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Croydon | Nelson | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 798Highest |
648Lowest |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±9.1 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH |
| Gilsum and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Croydon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Croydon and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,333±$21k about the NH average |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
| Nelson and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $317,300±$33k 21% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
| Nelson and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Croydon School District | Nelson School District | Monadnock Regional 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.