Compare towns

Whiting vs Ripton vs Wardsboro 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 renters (34.6% rent).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureWhitingRiptonWardsboroSalisbury
People
Population
532
508Lowest
820
1,200Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
51.6±7.3Highest
20% above VT
50.6±6.5
17% above VT
Wardsboro and Salisbury 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%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Wardsboro 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%
27.4%±3.1
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%
38.9%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$62,000±$6kLowest
24% 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±$36kLowest
11% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$299,300±$47k
5% 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±$519Lowest
about the VT average
—
$1,479±$224Highest
20% above VT
$1,443±$984
17% above VT
Wardsboro and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,227Lowest
16% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,345
14% below VT
$4,842
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
54.5%±58
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
7.7%
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%
90.4%
VT: 73.2%
88.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
7% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
27 minHighest
14% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
Work from home
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±5.1
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 River Valleys Unified School District #73 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.