Compare towns
Nelson vs Dover 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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.
| Measure | Nelson | Dover | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,308Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Dover 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%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest 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% |
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% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest 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% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
— | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest 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 | — | Stoddard School District |
| High school 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.