Compare towns
Brookline vs Durham vs Ripton vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Brookline | Durham | Ripton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
10,681Highest |
508Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% 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 | 20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Brookline 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.