Compare towns
Harrisville vs Epping 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Epping | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 885 |
7,430Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,036±$13k 4% above NH |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Epping and Harrisville 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Epping and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,611±$367 8% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Epping and Harrisville 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 |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±90.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harrisville School District | Epping School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.