Compare towns
Nelson 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
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Nelson | Salisbury | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,609 |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest 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+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Salisbury 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Nelson 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.