What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartland has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartland	Salisbury
People
Population	3,460Highest	1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.8±5.1Highest 43% above U.S.	51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Hartland and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Salisbury and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hartland and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hartland and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,136±$23kLowest 7% above U.S.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$348,600±$39kLowest 5% above U.S.	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Salisbury and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,917±$632 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,437Highest 106% above U.S.	$5,859Lowest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.1%±89.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hartland and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	13.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Hartland 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	#29 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Hartland School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.