What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham	Nelson
People
Population	10,681Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	Durham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Durham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Durham and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 36% below NH	24 minHighest 9% below NH
Work from home	15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 120 in NH	—
School district	—	Nelson School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.