What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton	Nelson
People
Population	9,816Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S.	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Middleton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Middleton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#71 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Middleton	Nelson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.