Compare towns

Ripton vs Salisbury vs Worcester vs St. George

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%).
Salisbury has the most renters (34.5% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
St. George has the most kids (25.6% under 18).

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.

MeasureRiptonSalisburyWorcesterSt. George
People
Population
508Lowest
5,656Highest
831
812
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%
+17.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
51±6.9Highest
31% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
44.7±13.4Lowest
15% 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%
12.3%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
25.6%±7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.1%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.7Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±3.9
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.
$109,464±$34k
36% above U.S.
Ripton and St. George 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.
$376,800±$50k
13% 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.
$1,394±$132
about the U.S. average
Salisbury and St. George 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.
$5,514Highest
77% 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%
96%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. George 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%
5.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
65.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%Highest
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.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
19 minLowest
28% 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%
27.6%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
St. George 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.