Compare towns
Nelson vs Middlesex 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,943Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Middlesex 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Sullivan 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.