Compare towns
Nelson vs Upton 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 people working from home (31.5%).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Upton | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
8,189Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
58.9±5.5Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harrisville 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% |
53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Upton and Harrisville 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$103,036±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$430,500±$48k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,611±$367Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±90.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.