Compare towns
Ripton vs North Reading 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 most homeowners (90.9%).
North Reading has the most expensive homes ($711k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | North Reading | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
15,765Highest |
616 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading and Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
56.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2 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±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$147,768±$25kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| North Reading 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. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$9,693Highest 211% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading and Andover 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 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%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and North 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Reading | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.