What stands out worked out from the figures below

East Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

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

Measure	East Kingston	Nelson
People
Population	2,311Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	East Kingston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	East Kingston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,194±$38kHighest 40% above NH	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	East Kingston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$575,500±$56kHighest 43% above NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,203±$243 19% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Highest 44% above NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Nelson and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	24.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	East Kingston School District	Nelson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	9 photos →	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.