Compare towns
Stoddard vs Dudley 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%).
Dudley has the most renters (26.9% rent).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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.
| Measure | Stoddard | Dudley | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
11,929Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Nelson 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% 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 | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Dudley and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316 38% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stoddard and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% 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 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #142 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.