What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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	North Hampton	Nelson
People
Population	4,543Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	North Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	North Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	North Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	North Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,529Highest 28% above NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Nelson and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 8% below NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and North Hampton 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	#12 of 120 in NH	—
School district	North Hampton School District	Nelson 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.