Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury 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%).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($466k median).
Stoddard has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Salisbury | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
5,656Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Salisbury 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$92,469±$7kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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 |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,561 46% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Salisbury 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Stoddard School District |
| 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.