Compare towns
Nelson vs Rockport 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%).
Rockport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Rockport | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
3,675Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Rockport 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% |
20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Rockport 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% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Rockport 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% |
51.3% 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%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rockport 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±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$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±$49k about the U.S. average |
$469,000±$50kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,194±$667Lowest 15% 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 | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,764Highest 85% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockport 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% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #8 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Camden Hills Regional H S | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.