Compare towns
Jefferson vs Nelson vs Carroll
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Nelson | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Highest |
648Lowest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 34% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Jefferson and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 32% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Nelson and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
| Nelson and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,078±$241 28% below NH |
| Nelson and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 37% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 29% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.