Compare towns
Castleton vs Nelson vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sullivan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
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 | Castleton | Nelson | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
648Lowest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$236,500±$29k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.