What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Gilsum has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.5%).

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	Nelson	Gilsum
People
Population	648Lowest	716Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	44.8±8.1Highest 3% above NH
	Gilsum 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%	19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±2.3Highest NH: 6%
	Gilsum 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	$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH
	Nelson and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH	$241,500±$32kLowest 40% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH	$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH
	Gilsum and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH	$5,579Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Gilsum 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%	13.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	11.9%±8.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	Monadnock 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.