Compare towns
Ripton vs Colrain vs Andover vs Reading
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).
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Colrain | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,627Highest |
616 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Colrain 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% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain 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% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above 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. |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above 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 | — | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Andover and Colrain 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. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mohawk Trail | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None 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.