Compare towns
Nelson vs Mason vs Stoddard
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%).
Mason has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Mason | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,451Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Mason 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 |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
| Mason 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 |
$384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Mason and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Stoddard 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Mason School District | Stoddard 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.