Compare towns
Andover vs Ashby vs Ripton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Ashby has the most kids (17% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Andover | Ashby | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
3,211Highest |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashby and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Ashby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$6,034Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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 | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ashby 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.