Compare towns
Salisbury vs Nelson vs Fitzwilliam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k 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 | Salisbury | Nelson | Fitzwilliam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609 |
648Lowest |
2,278Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
49.2±4.2 14% above NH |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$100,735±$11k about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$305,900±$34kLowest 24% below NH |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
— |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859Highest 12% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,173Lowest 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Fitzwilliam and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
39 minHighest 48% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Nelson School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.