Compare towns

Nelson vs Barnet 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%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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.

MeasureNelsonBarnetStoddard
People
Population
648Lowest
1,855Highest
1,072
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±11.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
47.7±5.3
23% above U.S.
53±4Highest
36% above U.S.
Stoddard and Barnet 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%
21.6%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnet and Nelson 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%
35.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Stoddard and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,792±$23kHighest
24% above U.S.
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below U.S.
$94,904±$11k
18% above U.S.
Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$340,900±$49kHighest
about the U.S. average
$247,900±$24kLowest
25% below U.S.
$330,300±$20k
about the U.S. average
Nelson and Stoddard 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.
$974±$72
31% below U.S.
$895±$751Lowest
37% below U.S.
Nelson and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,575Highest
79% above U.S.
$4,489
44% above U.S.
$4,316Lowest
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±68.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.3%±29.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Barnet 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%
8.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Nelson School District Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 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.