Compare towns
Andover vs Ripton vs Waitsfield vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Waitsfield has the most renters (66.2% rent).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% 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 | Waitsfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 616 |
508 |
193Lowest |
699Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton 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 |
— | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Andover and Reading 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Andover 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.