Compare towns
Hardwick vs Putney vs Ripton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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.
| Measure | Hardwick | Putney | Ripton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
2,622 |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% 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 | 15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 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+ | 33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% 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 | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406 29% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 23% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 min 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.