Nelson is a small, rural town in Cheshire County near Keene, known for its long-running weekly contra dance, one of the oldest continuous dance traditions in the country. The town's forested hills and small population give it a quiet, close-knit character.

Nelson's dance tradition and small arts community give the town a cultural identity larger than its population might suggest, while the surrounding hills offer hiking. The town's proximity to Keene provides access to a larger city's services.

Housing in Nelson remains affordable relative to Keene, drawing artists, musicians, and families who want rural, close-knit living near the Monadnock Region's largest city.