Compare towns
Nelson vs Sheldon vs Newington
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).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,267Highest |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newington and Sheldon 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 |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$6,081Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington 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% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Newington 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.