Compare towns
Nelson vs Windsor vs Surry
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%).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Windsor | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
254Lowest |
1,052Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
40.2±18.8Lowest 7% below NH |
44.7±5.1Highest 3% above 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% |
25.2%±14.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Windsor 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% |
15.7%±8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
12.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±4.2 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Windsor 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 |
$103,750±$40k 5% above NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$337,500±$40k 16% below NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
| Nelson and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
— | $1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$3,381Lowest 49% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windsor 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% 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 min 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15%±16.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | — |
| High school 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.