Compare towns

Ripton vs Salisbury vs Strafford

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 affordable homes ($307k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.

MeasureRiptonSalisburyStrafford
People
Population
508Lowest
1,200
4,306Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
50.6±6.5Highest
30% above U.S.
46.3±2.1Lowest
19% 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%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Strafford 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%
30.4%±2.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±4.1Lowest
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%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$99,688±$21kLowest
23% above U.S.
$122,105±$22kHighest
51% above U.S.
Strafford 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.
$306,900±$51kLowest
8% below U.S.
$427,900±$29kHighest
29% above U.S.
Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,443±$984Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,635±$246Highest
16% above U.S.
Strafford 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.
$4,842Lowest
55% above U.S.
$6,086Highest
95% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.3%±30.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Strafford 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%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Strafford 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 — — #73 of 120 in NH
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Strafford School District
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

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.