Compare towns
Andover vs Plainfield vs Townshend 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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Plainfield | Townshend | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
1,314 |
1,538Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Andover 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
— |
| Andover and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Townshend 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| 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.