Compare towns
Ripton vs Barre vs Salisbury vs Hancock
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 people working from home (17.2%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
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 | Barre | Salisbury | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
5,572Highest |
1,200 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below 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% |
15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock 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%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6 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% |
31.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$107,727±$13k 33% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Barre 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. |
$394,300±$55k 19% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$939±$19Lowest 34% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Barre 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. |
$5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$3,511Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±27.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Barre 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Hancock 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 | — | #134 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Quabbin | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Quabbin Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.