Compare towns
Ripton vs Salisbury vs Waitsfield
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 affordable homes ($307k median).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Salisbury | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,200 |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Lowest 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton 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 |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.