Compare towns
Nelson vs Topsham vs North 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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 | Topsham | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,706Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Hampton and Nelson 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% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Topsham and North 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| North 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±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Topsham 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,529Highest 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and North Hampton 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nelson School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.