Compare towns
Sullivan vs Middlesex vs Calais 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).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Calais | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687 |
1,943Highest |
1,713 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Middlesex 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Calais 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Calais 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.