Compare towns
Sullivan vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Orange | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
7,573Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan and Orange 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. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below 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. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% 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 | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.