Compare towns
Salisbury vs Cornwall vs Benson vs Whiting
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Cornwall | Benson | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200 |
1,208Highest |
784 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Benson and Salisbury 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| 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 3% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Whiting 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Benson 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.