Compare towns
Stoddard vs Middlesex vs Springfield 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%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Middlesex | Springfield | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,072 |
1,943Highest |
1,122 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest 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+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Springfield 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 |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% 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 | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 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 | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest 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 | Stoddard School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | 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 | 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.