Compare towns
Nelson vs Sheldon vs Troy
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Troy 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% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy 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±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Nelson 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. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Troy 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Troy 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.