Compare towns
Ripton vs Wardsboro vs Wheelock 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%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Wardsboro | Wheelock | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
820 |
717 |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% 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 | — | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
— | $1,443±$984Lowest 17% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Salisbury 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 |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.