What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

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	Rye
People
Population	648Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
	Rye 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%	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Rye 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%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rye 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6%
	Rye 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	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH
	Rye 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	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH	$7,519Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rye 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%	6.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Lowest 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	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Rye 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	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Nelson School District	Rye 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.