Compare towns
Ripton vs West Fairlee 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%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | West Fairlee | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
711 |
1,200Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.3±7.6 17% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and West Fairlee 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% |
13.5%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and West Fairlee 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% |
29.7%±6.7Lowest 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% |
44.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% 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 | — | $1,113±$171Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and West Fairlee 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 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.