Compare towns
Nelson vs Gorham 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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Gorham | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,682Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Gorham and South Hampton 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% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Nelson 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% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Gorham and South Hampton 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 |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Nelson 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 |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham 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% |
4.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.