Compare towns
Sullivan vs Middlebury 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).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
7,220Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
23.7±1.3Lowest 39% 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% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest 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%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest 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% |
61.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
40.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$86,250±$18kLowest 7% above 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. |
$417,400±$31kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Middlebury 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. |
$1,201±$120Lowest 15% 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. |
$6,795Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlebury 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% |
15.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.