Compare towns
Salisbury vs Middlesex vs Berlin vs Cornish
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 (+2.9%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Middlesex | Berlin | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,609Lowest |
1,943 |
2,880Highest |
1,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±4.5 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,859 88% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.3%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.