Compare towns
Sullivan vs Eliot vs Acworth 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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Acworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Eliot | Acworth | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687 |
7,146Highest |
851 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.3±14.5 22% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Acworth 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.9%±16.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Acworth 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±9.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%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% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acworth 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$82,917±$5kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$273,000±$34k 18% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,352±$291 4% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Acworth 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,695 51% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.