Compare towns
Nelson vs Surry vs Sullivan vs South Hampton
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%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,052Highest |
687 |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% 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 |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Sullivan and South Hampton 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%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Surry 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±$23k 18% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
| Surry and South Hampton 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 |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above 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% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | — | South Hampton 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 | 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.