Compare towns
Chester vs Middlesex vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Chester | Middlesex | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,943 |
1,200Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Middlesex and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Middlesex and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.