Compare towns
Stoddard vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Dover | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
2,308Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest 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+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Nelson 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | — | Nelson School District |
| High school 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.