Compare towns
Loudon vs Ripton vs Salisbury vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wakefield has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Loudon | Ripton | Salisbury | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,692Highest |
508Lowest |
1,200 |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2 27% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.4±4.1 27% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 29.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16k 32% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$100,976±$11k 25% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$48k 9% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$322,800±$43k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$434 about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$2,954Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±82.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Wakefield 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | — | — | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wakefield School District |
| 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 |
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.