Compare towns

Andover vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Reading

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%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).

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.

MeasureAndoverExeterRiptonReading
People
Population
616
16,151Highest
508Lowest
699
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±5.1
26% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Lowest
18% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Reading 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%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Reading and Exeter 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%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Reading 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%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
Ripton and Exeter 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.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
Exeter 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
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
—
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
Exeter 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.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$5,754
84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Andover and Reading 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%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%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.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover and Reading 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 — #22 of 120 in NH — —
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town — Exeter High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 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.