What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Stoddard	Nelson
People
Population	1,072Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53±4Highest 22% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH	$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH
	Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH	$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH
	Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Lowest 35% below NH	$5,575Highest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Stoddard and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 25% above NH	24 minLowest 9% below NH
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Stoddard 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.