Compare towns
Sullivan vs Orange vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | 687Highest |
320Lowest |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orange 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 8% above NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Orange 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 41% below NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
$340,900±$49kHighest 15% below NH |
| Nelson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Highest 18% below NH |
— | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| 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 24% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.