Compare towns
Nelson vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Nelson | Ripton | Salisbury | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 648 |
508Lowest |
1,200Highest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5 20% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,099 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Nelson 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 |
U.S. 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.