Compare towns
Nelson vs Hanover 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($755k 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 | Hanover | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
14,845Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard 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% |
26.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hanover 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hanover 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. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,845±$341Highest 31% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Hanover 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 | — | #69 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.