What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most expensive homes ($230k median).

Fenner has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).

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	Fenner
People
Population	1,765Highest	1,719Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.2±6.2Highest 19% above NY	45±5.9Lowest 13% above NY
	Nelson and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±8Lowest NY: 20.5%	24.3%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Fenner and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%	19.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Nelson and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%	25.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Nelson and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,063±$18kHighest 5% below NY	$77,750±$4kLowest 10% below NY
	Nelson and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,000±$18kHighest 46% below NY	$184,200±$20kLowest 57% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$773±$328Highest 52% below NY	$636±$97Lowest 61% below NY
	Nelson and Fenner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,990Highest 39% below NY	$3,073Lowest 53% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	36.8%±19.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Fenner and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NY: 14%	11.5%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	86%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 13% below NY	26 minLowest 21% below NY
Work from home	13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	15.6%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Fenner and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.