Compare towns
Ripton vs Halifax vs St. George vs Reading
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%).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
St. George has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Halifax | St. George | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
7,748Highest |
812 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4 15% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| St. George and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Halifax 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±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$376,800±$50kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,394±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Halifax and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$5,514 77% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George and Reading 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% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| St. George and Reading 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Halifax | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.