Compare towns
Andover vs Ripton vs Chester vs Windham
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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Ripton | Chester | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% 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 |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Windham 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.