Compare towns
Dalton vs Nelson vs Lunenburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Lunenburg has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Dalton | Nelson | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 916 |
648Lowest |
1,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±12.9 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,561 14% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Nelson School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.