Compare towns
Nelson vs Exeter vs Sullivan vs Francestown
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Sullivan | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
16,151Highest |
687 |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 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% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Exeter and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Exeter 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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 | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | 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.