Compare towns
Phillipston vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Templeton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Phillipston has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Templeton has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Phillipston | Worcester | Ripton | Templeton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,895 |
831 |
508Lowest |
8,252Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±1.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.3±5.1Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Phillipston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Templeton and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,692±$14k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$101,154±$15k 25% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,400±$27k 12% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$358,500±$12k 8% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Phillipston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$849Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,207±$353 15% below U.S. |
| Phillipston and Templeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,554 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±26.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Phillipston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | — | #244 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Narragansett |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Narragansett Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.