Compare towns

Andover vs Salem vs Ripton

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%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).

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.

MeasureAndoverSalemRipton
People
Population
616
2,611Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.2±5.1Highest
26% above U.S.
47.5±4.2Lowest
22% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% 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%
16.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
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%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Salem 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%
31.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,500±$38k
27% above U.S.
$83,398±$12kLowest
3% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% 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.
$196,000±$26kLowest
41% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above 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±$364Highest
about the U.S. average
$948±$40Lowest
33% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,190Highest
66% above U.S.
$3,908Lowest
25% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.4%±47.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±7.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
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%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±12.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover and Salem 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 — #376 of 484 in NY —
School district — SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — SALEM HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.5
—
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.