Compare towns
Springfield vs Surry 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
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Springfield | Surry | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Highest |
1,052 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Springfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Surry and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Springfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$6,384Highest 4% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Nelson School District |
| High school 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.