Compare towns
Danby vs Cavendish vs Salisbury vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Danby | Cavendish | Salisbury | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,242Highest |
1,200 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cavendish and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Salisbury and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Salisbury and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Salisbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.