Compare towns
Sullivan vs Brattleboro 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).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Brattleboro | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
12,122Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Brattleboro 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% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Brattleboro 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% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Nelson 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% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro 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. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% 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±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% 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 | $5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.