What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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	Exeter
People
Population	648Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH
	Exeter 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%	24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson and Exeter 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%	59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH
	Exeter and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH	$8,814Highest 32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Exeter 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%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	25 minHighest 7% below NH
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Nelson School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	None in town	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

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.