Compare towns
Ripton vs Townsend vs St. George 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
St. George has the most kids (25.6% 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 | Townsend | St. George | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
9,100Highest |
812 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.7±13.4 15% 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.6%±7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| St. George and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$109,464±$34k 36% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$376,800±$50kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,394±$132 about the U.S. average |
$1,389±$364Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and St. George 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,514 77% above U.S. |
$5,190 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
96%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. George and Andover 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and St. George 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.