Compare towns
Ripton vs Acton vs Salisbury vs Andover
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 the most homeowners (90.9%).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
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.
| Measure | Ripton | Acton | Salisbury | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
24,155Highest |
1,200 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Andover 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Acton-Boxborough | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— | — |
| 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.