Compare towns
Andover vs Ripton vs Ludlow 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%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ripton | Ludlow | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
508Lowest |
1,990 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Ludlow 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Ripton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below 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 |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below 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 |
— | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Andover and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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 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.