Compare towns
Ripton vs Dracut vs St. George 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dracut has the most expensive homes ($474k median).
St. George has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Dracut | St. George | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
32,574Highest |
812 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4 15% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% 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 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| St. George and Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 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+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$376,800±$50kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,394±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,514 77% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| St. George and Reading 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Dracut | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.