Compare towns
Ripton vs Salisbury vs Wells
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).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($485k 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Salisbury | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,200 |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells and Salisbury 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% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Ripton 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% |
43.3% 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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Salisbury 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. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,443±$984Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% 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% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Ripton 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 | — | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.