Compare towns
South Hampton vs Nelson vs Francestown vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Nelson | Francestown | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
648Lowest |
1,398 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Francestown 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury 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 89% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,014 157% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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 | — | — | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Nelson School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.