Compare towns
Nelson vs South Hampton vs Mason
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
984 |
1,451Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| South Hampton and Mason 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 |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| South Hampton and Mason 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 |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and South 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 |
$7,049 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | South Hampton School District | Mason 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 |
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.