Compare towns
Berlin vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most renters (12.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Berlin | Ripton | Salisbury | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% 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 | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% 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 | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Salisbury and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.