Compare towns
Delaware vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 49.3).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Nelson has the most renters (13.7% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,261Highest |
1,943 |
1,765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -17.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.3±6.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.2±6.2 21% above U.S. |
| Delaware and Nelson 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Delaware and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.8%±23.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest 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±$28k 19% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$82,063±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Delaware 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$230,000±$18k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$773±$328Lowest 45% 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 | $4,989 60% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,990Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.4%±29.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Delaware and Nelson 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.3%±14.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Delaware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.