Compare towns
Sullivan vs Bellows Falls 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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.
| Measure | Sullivan | Bellows Falls | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
2,891Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Nelson 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Bellows Falls 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% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below 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±$29k 29% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% 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. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.


