What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

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

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	Ossipee	Nelson
People
Population	4,521Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50±4.6Highest 15% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Ossipee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Ossipee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Ossipee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH
	Nelson and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Ossipee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,401Lowest 34% below NH	$5,575Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Ossipee and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#100 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Governor Wentworth Regional 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.