Compare towns
Calais 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
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
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 | Calais | Ripton | Salisbury | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 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 | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$94,500±$12kLowest 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as 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 | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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.