Compare towns
Salisbury vs Waltham 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 kids (16.6% under 18).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,200Highest |
452Lowest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Waltham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above VT |
$97,500±$14kLowest 20% above 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±$51kLowest 3% below VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113Lowest 11% below VT |
— |
| Salisbury and Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.