Compare towns
Nelson vs Windham vs Middlesex 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648 |
594Lowest |
1,943Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Middlesex 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Windham 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% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Middlesex 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 |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.