Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sheldon vs Sandgate 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Sheldon | Sandgate | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200 |
2,267Highest |
435Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Salisbury 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 |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
— | — |
| Salisbury and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest 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 | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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.