Compare towns
Nelson vs Amesbury vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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.
| Measure | Nelson | Amesbury | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
17,403Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #151 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Amesbury | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.