What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

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	Rye	Nelson
People
Population	5,611Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Rye and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rye and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Rye and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	Rye and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Highest 13% above NH	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rye and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rye 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.