Compare towns
Nelson vs Surry vs Windham
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,052 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% 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%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.