Compare towns
Ripton vs Salisbury vs Wells
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Salisbury | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,200Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Salisbury 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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±$51k 3% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% 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 | — | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
| Salisbury and Wells 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.