Compare towns
Andover vs Norwich vs Ripton vs Chester
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%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Norwich | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
3,640Highest |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Norwich and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Norwich 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 | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.