Compare towns
Andover vs Halifax 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%).
Halifax has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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 | Halifax | Ripton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
7,748Highest |
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. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
36.1%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% |
5%±1.8 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. |
$118,556±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Halifax and Ripton 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. |
$481,500±$51kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
— | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Halifax and Brookline 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. |
$6,840Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 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% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% 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. |
1973Lowest 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. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Halifax | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.