Compare towns

Ossian 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

Ossian has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureOssianRiptonSalisbury
People
Population
689
508Lowest
1,200Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52.3±13.9Highest
34% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
50.6±6.5
30% above U.S.
Ossian and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Ossian and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.8%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ossian and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,738±$6kLowest
11% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$99,688±$21k
23% 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
$172,700±$43kLowest
48% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$306,900±$51k
8% below U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$867±$302Lowest
39% below U.S.
—
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
Salisbury and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,366Lowest
40% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$4,842
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
10.4%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Ossian are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.