Compare towns
Nelson vs Surry vs Harrisville
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%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Surry | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,052Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest 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%±2 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville 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% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Harrisville 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 |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$103,036±$13k 4% above NH |
| Surry and Harrisville 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 |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$430,500±$48kHighest 7% above NH |
| Harrisville 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 |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,611±$367 8% above NH |
| Surry and Harrisville 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 |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Harrisville 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% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Harrisville 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.