Compare towns
Sullivan vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Salisbury | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
1,609Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Salisbury 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% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Salisbury 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% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Sullivan and Salisbury 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 |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Sullivan 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 |
$363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Salisbury and Nelson 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Salisbury and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$5,859Highest 12% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley 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.