Compare towns

Ripton vs Westford 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%).
Westford has the most people working from home (19.1%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k 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.

MeasureRiptonWestfordSalisbury
People
Population
508Lowest
2,290Highest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
44.1±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
50.6±6.5Highest
17% 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%
16.9%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
Westford 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%
17.2%±3.2Lowest
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%
52.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
9.5%±4.6
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$112,750±$12k
39% above VT
$99,688±$21kLowest
23% above VT
Ripton and Westford 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
$424,500±$21kHighest
34% above VT
$306,900±$51kLowest
3% below VT
Westford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$2,375±$1kHighest
92% above VT
$1,443±$984Lowest
17% above VT
Westford 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
$6,282Highest
25% above VT
$4,842Lowest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.8%±31Lowest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Salisbury 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%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
33 minHighest
42% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
19.1%±6.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Westford 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 Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 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

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.