Compare towns
Brookline vs Hanson 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
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Hanson | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
10,660Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
| Hanson and Ripton 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. |
$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S. |
— |
| Hanson and Brookline 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. |
$6,402Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Ripton 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #149 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Whitman-Hanson | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | Whitman Hanson Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.