Compare towns
Andover vs Ripton vs Salem
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%).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Salem has the most kids (16.2% 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 | Ripton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
508Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Ripton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ripton 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 | — | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.