Compare towns
Andover vs Castleton vs Springfield 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Springfield | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
4,453 |
9,084Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Andover and Ripton 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$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% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.