Compare towns
Ripton vs Salisbury vs Worcester 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 highest household income ($113k).
Salisbury has the most renters (34.5% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Salisbury | Worcester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
5,656Highest |
831 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% 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% |
12.3%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester 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% |
29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Andover 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. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$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. |
$4,561 46% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Worcester 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.