Compare towns
Nelson vs Strafford vs Roxbury
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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Strafford | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
4,306Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Roxbury 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% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±11.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.4%±15.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Roxbury and Strafford 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 |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$323,100±$219kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
— |
| Strafford and Nelson 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 |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$5,787 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.