Compare towns
Andover vs Harvard vs Ripton vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Harvard | Ripton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
6,927Highest |
508Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
21.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Harvard and Ludlow 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow 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% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,112±$151Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Andover and Harvard 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,890Lowest 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Andover 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Andover 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Harvard | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | — | The Bromfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.