Compare towns

Dalton 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

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($466k 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.

MeasureDaltonRiptonSalisbury
People
Population
6,256Highest
508Lowest
5,656
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+15.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±5.8
28% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
51±6.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
27.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±3.2
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+
44.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,438±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$92,469±$7k
15% above U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$295,700±$26kLowest
11% below U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$465,900±$31kHighest
40% above U.S.
Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$872±$70Lowest
38% below U.S.
—
$1,770±$444Highest
25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,276Lowest
37% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,561
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±19Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
59.8%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
23 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
Work from home
12.5%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Salisbury and Ripton 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 #192 of 282 in MA — #240 of 282 in MA
School district Central Berkshire Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town Wahconah Regional High 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.