Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,281Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
58.9±5.5Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Harrisville 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Harrisville 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% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harrisville and Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$103,036±$13kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Harrisville 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 |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$430,500±$48k 29% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,611±$367 14% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Harrisville 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. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±90.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest 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 | Triton | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None 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.