What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tusten has the most people working from home (27.9%).

Nelson has the most kids (20.1% 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	Tusten	Nelson
People
Population	1,539Lowest	1,765Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-4.5%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±4.1Highest 23% above NY	47.2±6.2Lowest 19% above NY
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	20.1%±8Highest NY: 20.5%
	Nelson and Tusten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9%	19.7%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Nelson and Tusten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%	46.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±3.1Lowest NY: 7%	6.2%±3.4Highest NY: 7%
	Nelson and Tusten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,893±$21kLowest 12% below NY	$82,063±$18kHighest 5% below NY
	Nelson and Tusten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,800±$25kHighest 38% below NY	$230,000±$18kLowest 46% below NY
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$915±$140Highest 44% below NY	$773±$328Lowest 52% below NY
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,895Highest 10% below NY	$3,990Lowest 39% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24%±17.7Highest NY: 52.1%	22.2%±40.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest NY: 14%	7.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	86.3%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY	1957Lowest 2 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 19% above NY	29 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	27.9%±8.4Highest NY: 14.9%	13.8%±6.9Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Tusten and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.