Compare towns
Worcester vs Salisbury vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Worcester | Salisbury | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,200 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Chester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.