What stands out worked out from the figures below

Enfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).

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	Enfield	Nelson
People
Population	4,475Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Enfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Enfield 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±3.4Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Enfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,474±$19kLowest 4% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,800±$71kHighest about the NH average	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
	Enfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH	$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH
	Nelson and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,203Highest 7% below NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Nelson and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below NH	24 minHighest 9% below NH
Work from home	11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#5 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Mascoma Valley 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

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.