Compare towns
South Hampton vs Auburn vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | South Hampton | Auburn | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984 |
6,119Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Auburn and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| South Hampton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Auburn and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Auburn School District | Nelson 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.