What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

Tusten has the most people working from home (27.9%).

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	Tusten
People
Population	1,765Highest	1,539Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY	48.8±4.1Highest 23% above NY
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±8Highest NY: 20.5%	11.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Nelson and Tusten 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%	18.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Nelson and Tusten 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%	45.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7%	5%±3.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Nelson and Tusten 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	$75,893±$21kLowest 12% below NY
	Nelson and Tusten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$230,000±$18kLowest 46% below NY	$263,800±$25kHighest 38% below NY
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY	$915±$140Highest 44% below NY
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,990Lowest 39% below NY	$5,895Highest 10% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	24%±17.7Highest NY: 52.1%
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest NY: 14%	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 13% below NY	39 minHighest 19% above NY
Work from home	13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%	27.9%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Tusten 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.