What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Merrimac
People
Population	648Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S.
	Merrimac 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%	16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Merrimac 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%	41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimac and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S.	$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Merrimac and Nelson 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	$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S.
	Merrimac and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S.	$7,399Highest 137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimac 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%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Nelson School District	Pentucket
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.