What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).

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	Dover
People
Population	648Lowest	2,308Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S.
	Dover 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%	20.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Dover 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%	15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.	$250,001Highest 210% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243 15% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dover 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%	3.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	37 minHighest 39% above U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover and Nelson 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	—	#1 of 282 in MA
School district	Nelson School District	—
High school 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.