Compare towns
Ripton vs Bennington vs Worcester 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%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Bennington | Worcester | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
15,249Highest |
831 |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% 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 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Salisbury 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% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% 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 | — | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Bennington 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 |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.