Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury vs South Hampton 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%).
Salisbury has the most renters (28.8% rent).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | South Hampton | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,281Highest |
984 |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% 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% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 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% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 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. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Sullivan 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 |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Salisbury 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. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 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 | Triton | South Hampton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.