Compare towns
Nelson vs Ashby 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%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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.
| Measure | Nelson | Ashby | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
3,211Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Ashby 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% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest 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% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard and Ashby 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. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$484 15% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% 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 | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Nelson 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.