What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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	Madbury	Nelson
People
Population	2,203Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average
	Nelson and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Madbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Madbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	Madbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Madbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Nelson and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Oyster River Coop 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.