Compare towns
Ripton vs Castleton vs Andover 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Castleton | Andover | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
616 |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest 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%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 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 |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Andover 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Andover 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | 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.