Compare towns
Andover vs Castleton vs Ludlow 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
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 | Castleton | Ludlow | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
4,453Highest |
1,990 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Ludlow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Ludlow 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.