Compare towns
Bakersfield vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Bakersfield | Ripton | Salisbury | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,109 |
508Lowest |
1,200Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±8 8% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,462±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$77,250±$14kLowest 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,300±$19k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$243,000±$70kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$327 about the VT average |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Salisbury and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,823 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,659Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.8%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.2%±7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Bakersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.