Compare towns
Salisbury vs Needham 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 most affordable homes ($307k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Needham | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,200 |
32,459Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% 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 | 16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $306,900±$51kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,443±$984Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
— |
| Needham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,842Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Needham | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.