Compare towns
Ripton vs Braintree vs Castleton 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%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,026 |
4,453Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Braintree 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% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton 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% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% 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 | — | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Castleton 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 | 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.