Compare towns
Sullivan vs Ossipee 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).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Sullivan | Ossipee | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
4,521Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Ossipee and Sullivan 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% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sullivan and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 18% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Ossipee and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 24% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Nelson School District |
| High school 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.