Compare towns

Lowell vs Middlesex vs Salisbury vs Roxbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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.

MeasureLowellMiddlesexSalisburyRoxbury
People
Population
1,070
1,943Highest
1,200
942Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
32.9±6.5Lowest
24% below VT
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
35.6±11.7
17% below VT
Salisbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
30.7%±6.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
30.6%±5
VT: 17.9%
Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.3%±4.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.7%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
29.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,404±$15kLowest
29% below VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$99,688±$21k
23% above VT
$73,214±$22k
10% below 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
$183,400±$33kLowest
42% below VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
$242,600±$55k
23% 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
$945±$46Lowest
23% below VT
$1,333±$359
8% above VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
$950±$495
23% below VT
Salisbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,810Lowest
44% below VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$4,842
4% below VT
$4,284
15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.3%±92.9
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
16.7%±100
VT: 48.4%
Salisbury and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.6%
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%
VT: 10.1%
27.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
55 minHighest
135% above VT
27 min
17% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
26 min
12% above VT
Work from home
7.5%±2.3
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2
VT: 16.9%
5.2%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district Lowell School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.