Compare towns
Andover vs Ripton vs South Hooksett vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | South Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
508Lowest |
5,902Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett 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±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,471±$217Highest 4% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Ripton 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.