Compare towns
Andover vs Douglas 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%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Peacham has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
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 | Douglas | Ripton | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
9,207Highest |
508Lowest |
887 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.1±5.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Peacham and Andover 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas and Peacham 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$90,000±$28kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$302,000±$64kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Ripton 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 |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
— | $1,028±$248Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Andover 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. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,605 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.8% 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% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 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. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Douglas | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2 |
— | — |
| 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.