Compare towns
Gilsum vs Stoddard 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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Stoddard | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 716 |
1,072Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Stoddard 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% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest 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+ | 18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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 |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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 |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% 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 | $1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% 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 | $5,579Highest 16% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Stoddard 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Stoddard 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.