Compare towns
Montgomery vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Montgomery | Ripton | Salisbury | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,047 |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% 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 | $323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% below VT |
| Ripton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
— | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$929±$158 25% below VT |
| Salisbury and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% 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 |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.