Compare towns
Brandon vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Brandon | Ripton | Salisbury | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
508 |
1,200 |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
42.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% 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 | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,240Highest 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Goshen 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.