Compare towns
Ripton vs Methuen vs Andover
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 most homeowners (90.9%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Methuen | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
53,475Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% 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% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Methuen 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. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Methuen and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ripton 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | — | #236 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Methuen | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.