Compare towns
Gilsum vs Marlow vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Marlow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Gilsum | Marlow | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716 |
855Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Marlow and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Marlow and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Marlow and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,579 16% below NH |
$5,826Highest 13% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 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 | 13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Marlow School District | Nelson 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.