What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lapeer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

Nelson has the most people working from home (13.8%).

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	Lapeer	Nelson
People
Population	718Lowest	1,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.8±10.2Highest 20% above NY	47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY
	Lapeer and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Lapeer and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.5%±9.1Highest NY: 17.9%	19.7%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Lapeer and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest NY: 40.2%	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±2.7Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7%
	Nelson and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,955±$14kLowest 27% below NY	$82,063±$18kHighest 5% below NY
	Nelson and Lapeer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$160,600±$48kLowest 62% below NY	$230,000±$18kHighest 46% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$993±$435Highest 39% below NY	$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY
	Lapeer and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,109Lowest 53% below NY	$3,990Highest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±32.8Highest NY: 52.1%	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Lapeer and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest NY: 14%	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 16 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	2.3%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
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.