Compare towns
Sullivan vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Nelson has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Needham | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
32,459Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Nelson 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Nelson School District |
| High school 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.