Compare towns
Nelson vs Springfield vs Sullivan vs Surry
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%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Springfield | Sullivan | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,122Highest |
687 |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Springfield and Sullivan 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Sullivan 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 |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Sullivan 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 |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Springfield 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 |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | — | — |
| High school 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.