Compare towns
Ripton vs Townshend vs Worcester 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%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Salisbury has the most kids (16.6% 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 | Townshend | Worcester | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
831 |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Worcester 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% 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±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% 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 | — | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Worcester 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.