Compare towns
Berlin vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% 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 |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above 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±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
— |
| Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest 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 |
1982Highest 6 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 |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Ripton 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 | — |
| 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.