Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Brookfield | Ripton | Salisbury | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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 | 18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Salisbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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 | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.