Compare towns
Nelson vs Lyndeborough vs Harrisville
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%).
Lyndeborough has the highest household income ($117k).
Harrisville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,616Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.4%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Harrisville 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% |
22.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville 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% |
40.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lyndeborough and Harrisville 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$103,036±$13k 4% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Harrisville 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 |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$430,500±$48kHighest 7% above NH |
| Harrisville and Lyndeborough 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 |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,611±$367Highest 8% above NH |
| Harrisville and Lyndeborough 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 |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
$5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None 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.