Compare towns

Sullivan vs Chittenden 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).
Chittenden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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.

MeasureSullivanChittendenNelson
People
Population
687
1,318Highest
648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-13.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.6±6.5
20% above U.S.
50.8±6.3Highest
31% above U.S.
42.3±11.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Chittenden and Sullivan 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%
13.8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.5%±6.6Highest
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+
20.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Nelson and Chittenden 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%
51.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
61.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Sullivan and Chittenden 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.
$106,250±$28k
32% above U.S.
$99,792±$23kLowest
24% above U.S.
Sullivan and Chittenden 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.
$346,800±$35kHighest
4% above U.S.
$340,900±$49k
about the U.S. average
Chittenden and Nelson 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.
$1,125±$488Lowest
20% 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.
$5,346
71% above U.S.
$5,575Highest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40%±84.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
14.8%±55.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±68.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
1.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
4.2%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
31.5%±8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Barstow Unified Union School District #49 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.