Compare towns
Salisbury vs Colrain vs Cornwall vs Middlebury
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 the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
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 | Salisbury | Colrain | Cornwall | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200Lowest |
1,627 |
1,208 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cornwall 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16k 7% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30k 23% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,156±$113 18% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842 55% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | — | — | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mohawk Trail | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.