Compare towns
Richmond vs Middlebury vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Richmond | Middlebury | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,159 |
9,175Highest |
1,200Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$86,169±$16kLowest 6% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Richmond and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
| Richmond and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,156±$113Lowest 6% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Middlebury 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— |
| 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.