Compare towns
Nelson vs Hampton 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%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
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 | Hampton | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
10,101Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Hampton 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% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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 |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$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±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Hampton 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 |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.