Compare towns

Castleton vs Cornish vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

MeasureCastletonCornishSalisbury
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,816
1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
51.5±4.5
32% above U.S.
Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.9%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$111,591±$17kHighest
38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$363,400±$47kHighest
9% above U.S.
Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,917±$632Highest
36% above U.S.
Salisbury and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,796
86% above U.S.
$5,859Highest
88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
23.3%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Cornish 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 #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Cornish School District Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.