Compare towns
Nelson vs South Hampton vs Hampton
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%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | South Hampton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
984 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and South 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±$23k about the NH average |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| South Hampton and Nelson 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| South Hampton and Hampton 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 |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | South Hampton School District | 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 |
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.