Compare towns
Dalton 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
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Dalton | Nelson | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
648Lowest |
1,072Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dalton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36kLowest 18% 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 | $191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825 40% below NH |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Nelson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561Lowest 47% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,316 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Dalton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7Lowest 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.