Compare towns
Salisbury vs Athens vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the highest household income ($100k).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Salisbury | Athens | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,200Highest |
431Lowest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Salisbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Salisbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Salisbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Salisbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842 4% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Athens and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.