Compare towns
Sullivan vs Methuen 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).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
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 | Methuen | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
53,475Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Sullivan 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. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #236 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Methuen | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Methuen High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.