Compare towns

Salisbury vs Colrain vs Ripton

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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureSalisburyColrainRipton
People
Population
1,200
1,627Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±6.5Highest
30% above U.S.
49.6±8.7
28% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Lowest
23% above U.S.
Salisbury and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Salisbury and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
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+
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.6%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$99,688±$21k
23% above U.S.
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% 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
$306,900±$51k
8% below U.S.
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
Ripton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,443±$984Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,102±$77Lowest
22% below U.S.
—
Salisbury and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,842
55% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.9%±22.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
29% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
6%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mohawk Trail Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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.