Compare towns
Grantham vs Nelson vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Marlow has the oldest population (median age 52.8).
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 | Grantham | Nelson | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
648Lowest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
| Marlow and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±6.3 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+ | 17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
30.5%±5.7Highest 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+ | 59.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Grantham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
| Marlow and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39kHighest 15% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$325,400±$49kLowest 19% below NH |
| Grantham 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 |
$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
| Nelson and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605Highest 14% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,826 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Nelson School District | Marlow 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.