What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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	Chester
People
Population	648Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester 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%	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester 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±$23kLowest about the NH average	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243 19% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Nelson and Chester 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%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Nelson School District	Chester 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.