Compare towns
Lyndon vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Pownal has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Lyndon | Ripton | Salisbury | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Salisbury and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3 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+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below 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 | $227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% 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 | $1,096±$123 11% below VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Salisbury and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Pownal 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | — | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None 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.