Compare towns
Ripton vs Benson vs Winhall 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 highest household income ($113k).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
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 | Winhall | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
784 |
752 |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.9±6.1 13% above 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% |
17%±6.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Winhall 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% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest 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% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Winhall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,094±$732Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Benson 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 |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above 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% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.5%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 |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Winhall 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.