Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury vs Stoddard vs Windsor
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%).
Salisbury has the highest household income ($112k).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
Windsor has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Stoddard | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648 |
1,609Highest |
1,072 |
254Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
40.2±18.8Lowest 7% below NH |
| Stoddard 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25.2%±14.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Windsor 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% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.7%±8Lowest 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% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
12.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.9%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Windsor 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±$23k about the NH average |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$103,750±$40k 5% above NH |
| Salisbury and Windsor 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 |
$363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$337,500±$40k 16% below NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% 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 | $5,575 16% below NH |
$5,859Highest 12% below NH |
$4,316 35% below NH |
$3,381Lowest 49% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15%±16.5 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 | 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 | 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.