Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sturbridge vs Ripton vs Whiting
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).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Sturbridge | Ripton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,200 |
9,960Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±6.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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+ | 34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Ripton 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. |
$425,800±$18kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Ripton 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 |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Whiting 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. |
$6,520Highest 109% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,227Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | — | #89 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— | — |
| 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.