Compare towns
Nelson vs Middleton 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%).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,816Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Middleton 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. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest 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. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Middleton | — |
| 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.