Compare towns
Delaware vs Damascus 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
Delaware has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Damascus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.4%).
Nelson has the most kids (20.1% 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 | Delaware | Damascus | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,261 |
3,698Highest |
1,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -17.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.3 27% above U.S. |
52.3±1.7Highest 34% above U.S. |
47.2±6.2Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Damascus and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Damascus and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.8%±23.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,146±$28kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$75,357±$19kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$82,063±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,300±$17kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$282,200±$28kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$230,000±$18k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $705±$576Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$773±$328Highest 45% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,989Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,504Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$3,990 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.4%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±40.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Delaware and Damascus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 48% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±14.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Delaware and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #51 of 764 in PA | — |
| School district | — | Wayne Highlands SD | — |
| High school 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.