Compare towns
Salisbury vs Chester vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Salisbury | Chester | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
2,992Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Chester and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #49 of 70 in VT | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.