Compare towns
Ripton vs Athol vs Andover vs Granville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Granville has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Ripton | Athol | Andover | Granville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
12,011Highest |
616 |
414Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.8±7.7 15% 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 | 11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Granville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$60,500±$21kLowest 25% 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 | $394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$233,300±$40kLowest 30% 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 | — | $1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,163±$184 18% below U.S. |
| Andover and Granville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$2,914Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.8%±70.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Granville and Andover 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Athol-Royalston | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| 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.