What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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	Lebanon	Nelson
People
Population	14,999Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average
	Nelson and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
	Lebanon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 22% above NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lebanon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 48% below NH	24 minHighest 9% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#29 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Lebanon School District	Nelson School District
High school in town	Lebanon High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
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.