Compare towns
Groton vs Nelson vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Shelburne has the most renters (14% rent).
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 | Groton | Nelson | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 507Lowest |
648Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±16.2Highest 18% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.3±11 16% above NH |
| Groton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Shelburne and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,625±$21kLowest 14% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
| Nelson and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,000±$45kLowest 33% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Nelson and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,667±$295Highest 79% above NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,130±$62Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,873Lowest 57% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±83.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Groton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
86%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | — |
| High school 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.