What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

Alstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

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	Nelson	Alstead
People
Population	648Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
	Alstead and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alstead and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Alstead and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH	$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH
	Nelson and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243 19% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 16% below NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Alstead and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	Fall Mountain Regional 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.