Compare towns
Stoddard vs Nelson vs Washington
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%).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k 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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
648Lowest |
1,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±4 22% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
| Washington and Stoddard 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% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest 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%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Washington 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Washington and Stoddard 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 |
$89,453±$12kLowest 10% 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±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH |
| Washington and Nelson 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±$243Highest 19% below NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
| Nelson and Washington 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 |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Stoddard School District | Nelson School District | Washington 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.