What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).

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	Berlin
People
Population	648Lowest	9,383Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	44.6±2.8Highest 3% above NH
	Berlin 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%	17.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%	20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson and Berlin 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%	14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Berlin 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	$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH	$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH	$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 16% below NH	$3,437Lowest 48% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	43.7%±12Highest NH: 48.2%
	Berlin 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%	15.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below NH	19 minLowest 30% below NH
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#108 of 120 in NH
School district	Nelson School District	Berlin School District
High school in town	None in town	Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.