Compare towns
Ripton vs Ware vs Andover vs Middletown Springs
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).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Ware | Andover | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
10,048Highest |
616 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$262,200±$24kLowest 21% below 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 | — | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,208±$438 15% below U.S. |
| Andover and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,595 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% 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% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ware | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.