What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Manchester
People
Population	648Lowest	115,643Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average	38±1Lowest 12% below NH
	Nelson and Manchester 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%	18%±1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%	15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	34%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average	$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH
	Nelson and Manchester 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	$365,600±$7kHighest 9% below NH
	Manchester and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH	$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH	$5,922Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Manchester 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%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below NH	24 minLowest 10% below NH
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#115 of 120 in NH
School district	Nelson School District	Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District
High school in town	None in town	Manchester Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	14.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	6 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.