Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
5,656Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Nelson 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% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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. |
$92,469±$7kLowest 15% 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 |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sullivan 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. |
$4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr 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 13% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | — |
| High school 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.