What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5%).

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	Wayne	Nelson
People
Population	1,101Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Wayne and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wayne and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,194±$26kLowest 15% above U.S.	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.
	Nelson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S.	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
	Wayne and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.
	Nelson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S.	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	26.2%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 38	Nelson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.