Compare towns
Ripton vs Barnard vs Strafford vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k 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 | Ripton | Barnard | Strafford | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,211 |
1,372Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
| Strafford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.