Compare towns
Nelson vs Surry vs Keene
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%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,052 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Surry and Nelson 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% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry 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 |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Surry 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±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Nelson and Surry 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.