What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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	Nelson	Ashby
People
Population	648Lowest	3,211Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
	Ashby and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Nelson and Ashby 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%	43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ashby and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Ashby 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±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Ashby and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Nelson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.	$6,034Highest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Ashby 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%	2.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Nelson and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Nelson School District	North Middlesex
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.