Compare towns
Ripton vs Reading vs Mendon 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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k 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 | Reading | Mendon | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
699 |
1,113 |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 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% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Mendon 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
19 min 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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.