Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield 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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
2,522Highest |
508Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest 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 | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 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. |
22 minLowest 17% 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% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.