Compare towns
Salisbury vs Reading vs Hancock 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Reading | Hancock | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200Highest |
699 |
435Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Reading and Salisbury 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Hancock 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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 | 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.