Compare towns
Ripton vs Pepperell 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 most homeowners (90.9%).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k 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 | Pepperell | Salisbury | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
11,663Highest |
1,200 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Andover 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% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
43.8% 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% |
5.7%±2.3 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±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% 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. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 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% |
8% 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% |
84.3% 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. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% 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% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Pepperell 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | 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.