Compare towns

Ripton vs Salisbury vs Bristol

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%).
Salisbury has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Bristol has the most renters (28.7% rent).

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.

MeasureRiptonSalisburyBristol
People
Population
508Lowest
1,200
3,778Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%
VT: +2.8%
-2.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% above VT
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
47.9±4.8
11% above VT
Salisbury and Bristol 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%
16.6%±3.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
Salisbury and Bristol 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%
30.4%±2.9
VT: 21.4%
21.9%±4.8Lowest
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%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±3.2
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$99,688±$21k
23% above VT
$74,620±$8kLowest
8% 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
$306,900±$51kLowest
3% below VT
$337,300±$46k
7% above VT
Ripton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
$1,275±$181Lowest
3% above VT
Salisbury and Bristol 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
$4,842Lowest
4% below VT
$5,978Highest
19% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
47.9%±14.4
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Bristol 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%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%
VT: 73.2%
71.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
19 minLowest
20% below VT
25 minHighest
5% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±6.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Bristol 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 — — #31 of 70 in VT
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61
High school in town None in town None in town Mt. Abraham Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.