Compare towns

Johnson 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

Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureJohnsonRiptonSalisbury
People
Population
3,450Highest
508Lowest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
30.9±6.5Lowest
28% 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
22.7%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
Johnson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
10.8%±3.1Lowest
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+
32.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,346±$14kLowest
32% below VT
$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
$169,400±$62kLowest
46% 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
$948±$45Lowest
23% below VT
—
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
Salisbury and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,310Lowest
34% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,842
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±20.8
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
42% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
19 minLowest
20% below VT
Work from home
8.8%±4.6
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Johnson 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 #57 of 70 in VT — —
School district Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A 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

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.