Compare towns
Nelson vs Sullivan vs Salem
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).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Sullivan | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
687 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Sullivan 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% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% 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 |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Salem 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 | — | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | — | Salem |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.