Compare towns
Nelson vs Rye vs Sullivan
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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Rye | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
5,611Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Rye and Sullivan 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sullivan and Rye 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 |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rye and Sullivan 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Rye 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 |
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.