Compare towns
Ripton vs Salisbury vs Townsend
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).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Salisbury | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,200 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5% 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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Townsend 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.