Compare towns
Nelson vs Townsend vs Wilmot
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%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Wilmot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Townsend | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,100Highest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Wilmot and Nelson 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Wilmot 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Wilmot 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 |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43k 20% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,651Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Wilmot 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.