Compare towns
Stoddard vs Berlin vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($617k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Stoddard | Berlin | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
3,378Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest 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+ | 24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Berlin 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Berlin-Boylston | Nelson 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.