Compare towns

Sullivan vs Belgrade vs Nelson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Belgrade has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

MeasureSullivanBelgradeNelson
People
Population
687
3,351Highest
648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.6±6.5
20% above U.S.
47.3±14.6Highest
22% above U.S.
42.3±11.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Belgrade and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Nelson and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.9%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Nelson and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Belgrade and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,667±$20kHighest
32% above U.S.
$88,338±$13kLowest
9% above U.S.
$99,792±$23k
24% 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
$236,500±$29kLowest
29% below U.S.
$312,200±$44k
6% below U.S.
$340,900±$49kHighest
about the U.S. average
Nelson and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,225±$275Highest
13% below U.S.
$857±$108Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,203±$243
15% 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
$5,099
63% above U.S.
$2,859Lowest
8% below U.S.
$5,575Highest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±84.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.2%±35.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±68.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
4.2%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.6
U.S.: 15.1%
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Nelson and Belgrade 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 — #71 of 133 in ME —
School district — RSU 18 Nelson School District
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.