Compare towns
Salisbury vs Orwell vs Cornwall 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).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Orwell | Cornwall | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200 |
1,294Highest |
1,208 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Salisbury and Cornwall 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% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Cornwall 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±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Cornwall 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 |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.