Compare towns
Nelson vs Hampton Falls vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 Falls | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,328 |
5,656Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Hampton Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Hampton Falls 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 24% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$92,469±$7kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$465,900±$31k 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,770±$444 25% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Hampton Falls 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 |
U.S. 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.