Compare towns
Andover vs Hancock 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%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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.
| Measure | Andover | Hancock | Ripton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,791Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7% 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. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Reading 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% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Hancock 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% |
53.9%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% |
4%±1.6 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. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Ripton 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 |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Andover and Hancock 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. |
$6,884Highest 121% 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% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% 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. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs 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. |
33 minHighest 25% above 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% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 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 | ||||
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.