Compare towns
Ripton vs Douglas vs Middlebury vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k median).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Douglas | Middlebury | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
9,207Highest |
9,175 |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30k 23% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,156±$113Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
| Douglas and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
19 min 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas and Middlebury 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Douglas | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Douglas High School | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.