Compare towns
Johnson vs Salisbury vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Johnson | Salisbury | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
1,200 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Salisbury and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Salisbury and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Salisbury and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 42% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.