Compare towns

Ripton vs Salem 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 highest household income ($113k).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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.

MeasureRiptonSalemAndover
People
Population
508Lowest
2,611Highest
616
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
47.5±4.2Lowest
22% above U.S.
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%
16.2%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.5%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Salem and Ripton 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%
22.9%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Salem 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%
31.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$83,398±$12kLowest
3% above U.S.
$102,500±$38k
27% 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.
$196,000±$26kLowest
41% below U.S.
$382,900±$68k
15% 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 —
$948±$40Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,389±$364Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$3,908Lowest
25% above U.S.
$5,190Highest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±7.1Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±12.7
U.S.: 15.1%
29.6%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Andover and Salem 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 — #376 of 484 in NY —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town None in town SALEM HIGH SCHOOL —
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.5
—
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.