Compare towns
Nelson vs Exeter vs Stoddard 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%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k 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 | Exeter | Stoddard | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,072 |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Exeter 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stoddard 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 |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Stoddard 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stoddard School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.