Compare towns
Harrisville vs Dover 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
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Harrisville | Dover | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 885 |
33,364Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,036±$13kHighest 4% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$48k 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Dover and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,611±$367Highest 8% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Harrisville and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±90.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harrisville School District | Dover School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.