Compare towns

Nelson vs Washington vs Stoddard

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%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

MeasureNelsonWashingtonStoddard
People
Population
648Lowest
1,056
1,072Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±11.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
52.9±5.1
36% above U.S.
53±4Highest
36% above U.S.
Stoddard and Washington 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%
16.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and Stoddard 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%
24.3%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.5
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%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Stoddard and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,792±$23kHighest
24% above U.S.
$66,103±$8kLowest
18% below U.S.
$94,904±$11k
18% above U.S.
Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$340,900±$49kHighest
about the U.S. average
$217,700±$37kLowest
35% below U.S.
$330,300±$20k
about the U.S. average
Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,203±$243Highest
15% below U.S.
$996±$285
30% below U.S.
$895±$751Lowest
37% below U.S.
Nelson and Washington 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.
$3,485Lowest
12% above U.S.
$4,316
38% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±68.8
U.S.: 51.1%
34.5%±63.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stoddard 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%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9.5%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district Nelson School District Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Stoddard School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.