Compare towns
Ripton vs Athol 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%).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Athol | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
12,011Highest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol 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% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below 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 | $394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below 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 | — | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Athol 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Athol-Royalston | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.