Compare towns
Nelson vs Durham vs South Hampton
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
15,080Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South Hampton and Nelson 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.