Compare towns
Sullivan vs Surry vs Sutton 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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
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 | Surry | Sutton | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687 |
1,052 |
9,452Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry 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. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Surry 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. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Sutton 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 | — | — | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Sutton | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.