Compare towns

Nelson vs Putney 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.

MeasureNelsonPutneySullivan
People
Population
648Lowest
2,622Highest
687
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±11.7
9% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
46.6±6.5Highest
20% above U.S.
Sullivan 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%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±5
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and Sullivan 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
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%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,792±$23k
24% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$106,667±$20kHighest
32% above U.S.
Sullivan and Nelson 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
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
$236,500±$29kLowest
29% below U.S.
Nelson and Putney 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.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,225±$275Highest
13% below U.S.
Sullivan 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.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$5,099Lowest
63% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±68.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±84.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney 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%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
8% below U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
4.2%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Nelson School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
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.