Compare towns
Andover vs Chester vs Ripton vs Springfield
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%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Chester | Ripton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
2,992 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Chester 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% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below 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 |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below 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 |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $963±$100 22% below VT |
| Andover and Springfield 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
| 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.