Compare towns
Ripton vs Calais vs Stowe 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%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
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 | Calais | Stowe | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,713 |
5,285Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
46.3±7.6 7% 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2 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% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
| Stowe and Salisbury 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 |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as 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 |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stowe Town School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.