Compare towns
Nelson vs Sullivan vs Sunapee
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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Sullivan | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
687 |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Nelson 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% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Sunapee 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 |
$106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Sunapee 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 |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
| Sunapee and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$5,099 24% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| 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.