Compare towns
Nelson vs Plainville vs Roxbury
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%).
Plainville has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Plainville | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
9,943Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
43.2±17.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Plainville 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Plainville 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% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Plainville 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. |
$104,106±$13kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plainville 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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$476,000±$35kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$323,100±$219kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,787Highest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #102 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Plainville | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.