Compare towns

Ripton vs Salem 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%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.

MeasureRiptonSalemSalisbury
People
Population
508Lowest
30,964Highest
1,200
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
44.6±2.7Lowest
15% 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%
16.2%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Salem 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%
18.6%±1.7Lowest
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%
38.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±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.
$110,490±$9k
37% above U.S.
$99,688±$21kLowest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Salem 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.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
$306,900±$51kLowest
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,625±$146Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,443±$984Lowest
about the U.S. average
Salem 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.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
$4,842Lowest
55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Salem 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%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Salem 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 — #38 of 120 in NH —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Salem School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town Salem High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
—
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.