Compare towns
Andover vs Dalton vs Ripton vs Peacham
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%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Peacham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Dalton | Ripton | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
6,256Highest |
508Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peacham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Peacham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28k 11% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64k 9% 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±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
— | $1,028±$248 27% below U.S. |
| Andover and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,605Highest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Peacham 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±16.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Peacham 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— | — |
| 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.