Compare towns
Sullivan vs Surry vs Keene 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Surry | Keene | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687 |
1,052 |
22,939Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry 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 |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Surry 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 |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Surry 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 |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | Keene School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.