Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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 | Salisbury | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,281 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Salisbury 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Hampton 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 24% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Hampton 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | Triton | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.