Compare towns
Nelson vs Hudson vs Harrisville
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%).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Hudson | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
20,077Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
58.9±5.5Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harrisville 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% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$103,036±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$430,500±$48k 29% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,611±$367Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Hudson 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. |
$6,892Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±90.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hudson 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% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #224 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Hudson | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.