Compare towns
Ripton vs Poultney vs Sheffield 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%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Poultney | Sheffield | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,033 |
573 |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton 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 |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above 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 |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ripton 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Poultney 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 | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.