Compare towns
Ripton vs Benson vs Stratton 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 the most homeowners (90.9%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Benson | Stratton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
784 |
532 |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Benson 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% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Stratton 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 |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Ripton 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% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
32 min 35% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 |
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.