Compare towns

Ripton vs Mapleton vs Salisbury vs Middlebury

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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
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.

MeasureRiptonMapletonSalisburyMiddlebury
People
Population
508Lowest
1,884
1,200
9,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
50.6±6.5Highest
30% above U.S.
31.8±3.7Lowest
18% below 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%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton 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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.6
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%
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
32.6%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$99,688±$21k
23% above U.S.
$86,169±$16kLowest
7% above U.S.
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±$61k
19% above U.S.
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$306,900±$51k
8% below U.S.
$409,700±$30kHighest
23% above U.S.
Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,156±$113
18% below U.S.
Salisbury and Middlebury 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.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$4,842
55% above U.S.
$6,868Highest
120% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.9%±14.4
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%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
19 min
29% below U.S.
16 minLowest
41% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlebury 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 — — — #17 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Middlebury Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
12.6
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.