Compare towns
Salisbury vs Athens vs Stratton vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Salisbury | Athens | Stratton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200Highest |
431Lowest |
532 |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% 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 | 16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— |
| Salisbury and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842 4% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens 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 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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.