Compare towns
Nelson vs Merrimac 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
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Nelson | Merrimac | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
6,748Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Merrimac and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #188 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Pentucket | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.