What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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	Stark
People
Population	648Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Stark 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%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stark 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 NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark 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	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Nelson and Stark 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	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243 19% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 16% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark 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%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 9% below NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Nelson School District	Stark School District
High school in town	None 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.