Compare towns
Nelson vs Chester 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%).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Chester | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
5,300Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Chester and Sullivan 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 |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 | $5,575 16% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Chester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.