Compare towns
Barnard vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Barnard | Ripton | Salisbury | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% 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 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
— | $1,443±$984 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None 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.