Compare towns
Madison vs Salisbury vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madison has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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 | Madison | Salisbury | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,680Highest |
1,609Lowest |
2,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±9.7 29% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Madison and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,697±$11k 27% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$170,300±$22kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Madison and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$256 10% above U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,002±$107Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,074Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Madison 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 | 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.