Compare towns
Reading vs Ripton vs Danvers
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k 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 | Reading | Ripton | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699 |
508Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,654Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Danvers 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 | — | — | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.