Compare towns
Gardner vs Andover vs Ripton vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Gardner | Andover | Ripton | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
616 |
508Lowest |
12,606 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5 13% 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 | 18.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gardner and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6 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+ | 23.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8k 16% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$47,500±$7kLowest 41% below 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 | $301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% 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 | $1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $793±$113Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Andover and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 33% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and North Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — | — | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Gardner High | — | None in town | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | — | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.