Compare towns
Andover vs Ripton vs Thornton 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 renters (17.2% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Thornton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Thornton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
508Lowest |
2,799Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Thornton 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%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% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Andover 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 |
— | $1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% 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% |
57.7%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Thornton 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Thornton School District | — |
| 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.