Compare towns
Nelson vs Durham 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
15,080Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan 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% |
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%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Durham and Sullivan 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| 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.