What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Stratham
People
Population	648Lowest	7,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average	41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH
	Nelson and Stratham 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%	23.5%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson and Stratham 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%	69.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stratham 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	$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH	$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH	$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH	$9,781Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stratham 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%	2.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer 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%	25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Stratham 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	—	#43 of 120 in NH
School district	Nelson School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.