Compare towns
Whiting vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Whiting | Ripton | Castleton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9 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+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$99,688±$21k 23% 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 | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
— | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.