Compare towns
Andover vs Hancock 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%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Hancock | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,791 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.7% 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. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
| Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hancock 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Hancock 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% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 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. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Ripton 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 |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Andover and Hancock 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. |
$6,884Highest 121% 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% |
32.4%±55.6 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% |
4.1%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% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.