Compare towns
South Hampton vs Hancock 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%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Hancock | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984 |
1,791Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock 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±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Nelson 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 |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| South Hampton and Hancock 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Hancock 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% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | South Hampton School District | Contoocook Valley 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.