Compare towns
Jay vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Salisbury | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
508 |
1,200Highest |
497 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 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+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Salisbury and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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.