Compare towns
Nelson vs Surry vs Sullivan 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%).
Surry has the highest household income ($110k).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Surry | Sullivan | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648 |
1,052Highest |
687 |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Surry 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% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±11.5Lowest 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%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.4%±15.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Roxbury 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 |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
| Surry and Sullivan 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 |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$323,100±$219k 20% 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 |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$5,787 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.