Compare towns
Granville vs Ripton vs Townsend vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Granville has the most people working from home (31.9%).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Granville | Ripton | Townsend | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 414Lowest |
508 |
9,100Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±7.7 15% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42±8 8% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Granville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Granville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $60,500±$21k 25% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $233,300±$40k 30% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$184 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Granville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,914 7% below U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.8%±70.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Granville 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.