Compare towns
Nelson vs Keene vs Chatham
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%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Chatham has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Keene | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
22,939Highest |
430Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
| Chatham and Nelson 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Chatham 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
38.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
| Nelson and Keene 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
| Chatham and Nelson 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 |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
— |
| Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Keene School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.