Compare towns
Ripton vs Colrain 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 highest household income ($113k).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Colrain | Salisbury | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,200 |
616 |
| 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. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Colrain 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% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain 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% |
37.3% 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% |
2.8%±1.1 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±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Andover 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. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,389±$364 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. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% 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% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mohawk Trail | 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.