Compare towns
Andover vs Athol vs Ripton vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Athol has the most renters (27.6% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Andover | Athol | Ripton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
12,011Highest |
508Lowest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Athol 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.