What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Randolph has the oldest population (median age 57.5).

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	Randolph
People
Population	648Highest	420Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	57.5±10.9Highest 33% above NH
	Randolph 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%	14.5%±6.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	60.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.5%±3.7Highest NH: 6%
	Randolph 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	$101,750±$16kHighest about the NH average
	Randolph 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	$407,000±$57kHighest about the NH average
	Randolph 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	$1,667±$215Highest 12% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 16% below NH	$4,269Lowest 36% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	50%±53.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Randolph 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%	6.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	83.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1963Lowest 16 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%	19.5%±5.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.