Compare towns
Ripton vs Ashburnham 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
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ashburnham has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Ashburnham | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
6,415Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,443±$984Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ashburnham 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. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Ashburnham 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 | — | #178 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ashburnham-Westminster | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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.