Compare towns
Nelson vs Windham vs Middlesex vs Roxbury
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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648 |
594 |
1,943Highest |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.2±17.7 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Middlesex 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% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Windham 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% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Middlesex 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. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$323,100±$219kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
— |
| Middlesex 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. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,787 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.