Compare towns
Sullivan vs Bedford 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
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Sullivan | Bedford | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
23,746Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bedford and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Bedford School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.