Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury vs Springfield
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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,609Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury 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% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Salisbury and Nelson 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 |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Springfield 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 |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
| Springfield and Salisbury 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Springfield 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Merrimack Valley 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.