What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilsum has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Gilsum	Nelson
People
Population	716Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,579Highest 16% below NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Monadnock 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.