Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sutton vs Wells 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Sutton | Wells | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200Highest |
790 |
1,148 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% 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 |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% 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 |
— | $1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Wells 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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.