Compare towns
Nelson vs Sullivan vs Wayne
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
687 |
1,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne 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% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% 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% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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. |
$106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26kLowest 15% 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. |
$362,800±$29kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Nelson 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. |
$1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Sullivan 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. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | — | RSU 38 |
| High school 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.