Compare towns
Nelson vs Proctor vs Sheldon
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%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Proctor and Nelson 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% |
21.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Sheldon 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% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Proctor 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% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Proctor and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
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| 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.