Compare towns
Salisbury vs Worcester vs Middlesex vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Leicester has the most renters (14.5% rent).
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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200 |
831Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Salisbury and Leicester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Leicester 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Salisbury and Middlesex 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Leicester and Salisbury 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.