Compare towns
Townsend vs Brookline vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Townsend | Brookline | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Highest |
531 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15k 40% 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 | $433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% 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±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| 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.