Compare towns

Amesbury vs Ripton vs Salisbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).

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.

MeasureAmesburyRiptonSalisbury
People
Population
17,403Highest
508Lowest
9,281
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±1.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
51.3±3.5Highest
32% above U.S.
Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
44.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,554±$12k
28% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$93,361±$6kLowest
16% above U.S.
Ripton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$519,300±$32kHighest
56% above U.S.
$394,400±$61kLowest
19% above U.S.
$478,700±$27k
44% above U.S.
Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$115Lowest
19% above U.S.
—
$1,691±$411Highest
20% above U.S.
Salisbury and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,360Highest
136% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,604Lowest
48% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±11.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Amesbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Amesbury 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 #151 of 282 in MA — #240 of 282 in MA
School district Amesbury Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Triton
High school in town Amesbury High None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.