Compare towns
Stoddard vs Bath 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
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
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 | Stoddard | Bath | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
1,097Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 22% above NH |
48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Stoddard and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Bath and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$4,413 34% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stoddard School District | Bath 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.