Compare towns
Richmond vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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 | Richmond | Ripton | Salisbury | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,159 |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% 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 | 21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 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+ | 59.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,443±$984Lowest 17% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
| Stowe and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,868 36% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Richmond 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| 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.