What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	648Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S.	43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S.
	Middleton 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%	17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middleton 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.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average
	Middleton 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.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Nelson and Middleton 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%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Nelson School District	Middleton
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.