Compare towns
Nelson vs Bridgewater vs Sullivan
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 people working from home (31.5%).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Nelson | Bridgewater | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,169Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sullivan and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,225±$275Highest 18% below NH |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$5,099 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school 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.