Compare towns

Castleton vs Hampton vs Ripton vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).

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.

MeasureCastletonHamptonRiptonSalisbury
People
Population
4,453Highest
1,145
508Lowest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
50.6±6.5Highest
30% above U.S.
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%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$73,796±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$99,688±$21k
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71k
32% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$306,900±$51k
8% below U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,264±$375
11% below U.S.
—
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,842
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Hampton 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 #39 of 70 in VT — — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — 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

U.S. 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.