Compare towns
Sullivan vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% 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 | Walpole | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
3,690Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Sullivan and Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Walpole 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±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% 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 |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Highest 18% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Sullivan and Nelson 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 |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Fall Mountain 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.