Compare towns
Ripton vs Colchester vs Salisbury vs Hancock
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).
Colchester has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Colchester | Salisbury | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
17,648Highest |
1,200 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.3±1.4 9% below VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below 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% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester and Hancock 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% |
17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 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% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$97,891±$9k 21% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below 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 |
$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT |
$1,443±$984 17% above VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Colchester 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 |
$5,471Highest 9% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Colchester 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 min 15% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Colchester 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 | — | #18 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Colchester School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Colchester High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.