Compare towns
Ripton vs Barre 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%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Barre | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
8,005Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Barre 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% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,210±$9kLowest 15% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above 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 | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$281,400±$13kLowest 11% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% 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 | — | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,443±$984Lowest 17% above VT |
| Barre and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,737Lowest 6% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Barre 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barre 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | 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 |
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.