Compare towns
Stoddard vs Nelson vs Gilsum
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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Gilsum has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Nelson | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Highest |
648Lowest |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 22% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
| Stoddard and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Gilsum 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
| 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 |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
$241,500±$32kLowest 40% 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 |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,579Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Stoddard 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stoddard School District | Nelson School District | Monadnock Regional 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.