Compare towns
Sullivan vs Castleton vs Keene 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 oldest population (median age 46.6).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Keene has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
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 | Castleton | Keene | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687 |
4,453 |
22,939Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Castleton 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Keene and Sullivan 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Keene 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 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 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Keene School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.