Compare towns

Brookfield vs Nelson vs Elmore

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 47).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldNelsonElmore
People
Population
1,486Highest
648Lowest
964
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9Highest
21% above U.S.
42.3±11.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
45±3.5
16% above U.S.
Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±9.5
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.8%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kLowest
22% above U.S.
$99,792±$23kHighest
24% above U.S.
$98,750±$24k
22% above U.S.
Nelson and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15k
about the U.S. average
$340,900±$49kHighest
about the U.S. average
$315,800±$47kLowest
5% below U.S.
Nelson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
$1,203±$243
15% below U.S.
$1,225±$263Highest
13% below U.S.
Elmore and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Lowest
46% above U.S.
$5,575Highest
79% above U.S.
$5,066
62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±68.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±65.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Nelson and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Nelson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Nelson School District Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90
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.