Compare towns
Lempster vs Nelson vs Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Lempster | Nelson | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953 |
648Lowest |
1,097Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
| Lempster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
| Nelson and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29k 40% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558 32% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,413Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lempster School District | Nelson School District | Bath 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.