Compare towns
Andover vs Peru vs Ripton vs Waitsfield
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%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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 | Peru | Ripton | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
434Lowest |
508 |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| 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%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Peru and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kLowest 21% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Peru 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Andover and Peru 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 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% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.