Compare towns
Nelson vs Thompson vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,337Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thompson and South Hampton 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 24% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Thompson School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.