Compare towns
Andover vs Lunenburg 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%).
Lunenburg has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Lunenburg | Ripton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
11,902Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.8% 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. |
43.2±2.1Lowest 11% 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% |
21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lunenburg and Reading 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% |
17.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±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. |
$112,828±$11k 40% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Lunenburg 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. |
$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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 |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
— | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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. |
$6,401Highest 105% 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% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest 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% |
4.2%Lowest 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% |
80.7%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. |
1972 8 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. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #87 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | — | Lunenburg | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Lunenburg High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.4 |
— | — |
| 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.