Compare towns
Nelson vs New Hampton 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%).
New Hampton 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 | New Hampton | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,509Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and New 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% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| New Hampton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
| Nelson and New Hampton 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 |
$383,700±$37kHighest 5% below NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| New Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$895±$751 40% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Newfound Area 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.