Compare towns

Ripton vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($307k 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.

MeasureRiptonLowellSalisbury
People
Population
508Lowest
118,368Highest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
35.6±0.8Lowest
8% below 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%
21.7%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
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%
30%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$78,658±$4kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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±$61k
19% above U.S.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$306,900±$51kLowest
8% below U.S.
Lowell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,443±$984Lowest
about the U.S. average
Lowell and Salisbury 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.
$4,499Lowest
44% above U.S.
$4,842
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Lowell 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%
16.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%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.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Lowell 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 — #255 of 282 in MA —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Lowell Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town Lowell High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8
—
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.