Compare towns
Nelson vs Stoddard vs Dedham
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%).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Stoddard | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,072 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard 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% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham 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±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 |
$330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Stoddard School District | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.