Compare towns
Nelson vs Washington vs Dummer
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%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k median).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Washington | Dummer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
1,208Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
53.6±6.4 24% above NH |
| Washington and Dummer 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% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Washington 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 NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
16.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Washington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH |
$91,250±$21k 8% below NH |
| Nelson and Dummer 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 |
$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
$242,200±$51kLowest 40% below NH |
| Washington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Nelson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
$2,898Lowest 57% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Washington 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% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Washington 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 |
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.