Compare towns
South Hampton vs Durham vs Newington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Newington | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
15,080Highest |
939 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Newington and South Hampton 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer 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 |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.