What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newfane has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.7%).

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	Newfane
People
Population	648Lowest	1,456Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S.
	Newfane 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 U.S.: 22%	11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newfane and Nelson 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 U.S.: 35.7%	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfane 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 24% above U.S.	$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Nelson and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average	$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Nelson and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S.
	Newfane and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.	$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfane 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 U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	30.8%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.