Compare towns
Salisbury vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Great Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.3).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Great Barrington has the most kids (14.9% 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 | Salisbury | Worcester | Ripton | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.7±4.2 28% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11k 4% 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 | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Great Barrington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,314±$239 7% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,935Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | — | — | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.