What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).

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	Rollinsford	Nelson
People
Population	2,626Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average
	Nelson and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Rollinsford and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kHighest about the NH average	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
	Rollinsford and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Rollinsford and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Highest about the NH average	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1 NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Rollinsford 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	#94 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rollinsford 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.