Compare towns
Salisbury vs Mendon vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($307k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Mendon | Strafford | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200 |
1,113 |
1,372Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Mendon and Strafford 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21kLowest 23% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 20% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | Strafford 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 | 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.