Compare towns
Nelson vs Springfield vs Unity
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-4%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Springfield | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,122 |
1,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Unity 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% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Unity 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±$23k about the NH average |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$87,500±$16kLowest 12% below NH |
| Springfield 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±$49k 15% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity 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 |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
$5,394Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.