Compare towns
Ripton vs Salisbury vs Williston vs Worcester
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,200 |
10,144Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47±2.7 9% 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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±$51k 3% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,443±$984 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Salisbury 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 |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Williston 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.