What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lempster has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

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	Lempster	Nelson
People
Population	953Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Lempster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lempster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,607±$12kLowest 13% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,203±$243 19% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,558Lowest 32% below NH	$5,575Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lempster and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Lempster 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.