Compare towns
Ripton vs Strafford 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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 | Strafford | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,306Highest |
616 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% 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% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%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% |
5.4%±2.6 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. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$6,086Highest 95% 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% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest 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. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% 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% |
15.9%±5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | — | 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.