Compare towns

Ripton vs Middleborough 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%).
Middleborough has the most expensive homes ($469k median).
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.

MeasureRiptonMiddleboroughSalisbury
People
Population
508Lowest
24,505Highest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
43.4±2.1Lowest
12% 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%
18.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Middleborough 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%
21.8%±2.1Lowest
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%
32%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±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.
$97,056±$7kLowest
20% above 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±$61k
19% above U.S.
$468,700±$18kHighest
41% above U.S.
$306,900±$51kLowest
8% below U.S.
Middleborough and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,706±$72Highest
21% above U.S.
$1,443±$984Lowest
about the U.S. average
Middleborough and Salisbury 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.
$6,023Highest
93% above U.S.
$4,842Lowest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
57.2%±11.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Middleborough 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%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Middleborough 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 — #170 of 282 in MA —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Middleborough Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town Middleborough High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.3
—
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.