Compare towns
Andover vs Braintree vs Chester vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Chester has the most kids (14.1% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Braintree | Chester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,026 |
2,992Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Braintree 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.