Compare towns
Salisbury vs Nelson vs Hill
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).
Hill has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,609Highest |
648Lowest |
908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
49.1±6.8 13% above NH |
| Salisbury and Hill 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% |
10.9%±2.8Lowest 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% |
28.5%±2.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hill 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hill and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$82,125±$21kLowest 17% below NH |
| Salisbury and Nelson 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 |
$311,700±$41kLowest 23% 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 |
$4,933Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Salisbury 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% |
9.9%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 |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
35 minHighest 32% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.7%±3.4Lowest 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 | Hill 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.