Compare towns
Nelson vs Stoddard vs Stoughton
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%).
Stoughton has the most expensive homes ($524k 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 | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,072 |
29,225Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±2.2Lowest 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% |
41.9% 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% |
6.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoughton 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. |
$104,794±$6kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Stoughton 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 |
$523,800±$28kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,050±$200Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$6,215Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoughton 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.1%Lowest 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 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.4%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Stoddard School District | Stoughton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.