What stands out worked out from the figures below

Delaware has the most people working from home (27.3%).

Nelson has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Delaware	Nelson
People
Population	2,261Highest	1,765Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-17.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	49.3±6.3Highest 24% above NY	47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY
	Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Nelson and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9%	19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.8%±23.4Highest NY: 7%	6.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,146±$28kHighest 12% above NY	$82,063±$18kLowest 5% below NY
	Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,300±$17kLowest 46% below NY	$230,000±$18kHighest 46% below NY
	Nelson and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$773±$328 52% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,989Highest 24% below NY	$3,990Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.4%±29.7Highest NY: 52.1%	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.3%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 2 yrs newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	29 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	27.3%±14.3Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.