Compare towns
Sullivan vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Thompson | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687 |
9,337Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Thompson 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% |
21.9%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% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sullivan and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Highest 13% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson 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% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #130 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.