Compare towns
Nelson vs Sheldon vs Harrisville
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%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Harrisville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Sheldon | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,267Highest |
885 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58.9±5.5Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Harrisville 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% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Harrisville 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheldon and Harrisville 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$103,036±$13kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Harrisville 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$430,500±$48kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,611±$367Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Harrisville and Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,329 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±90.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Harrisville 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% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None 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.