Compare towns
Ripton vs Ashby vs Andover 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 the youngest population (median age 47.7).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Ashby | Andover | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
3,211Highest |
616 |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Ashby 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% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby 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% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Andover 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. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | — | 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 | 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.