Compare towns
Arlington vs Andover vs Ripton vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Bolton has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
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 | Arlington | Andover | Ripton | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598Highest |
616 |
508Lowest |
1,163 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4 13% below VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 55.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$111,125±$17k 37% above VT |
| Ripton and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$311,600±$42kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172Lowest 3% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
| Andover and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,826 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Andover 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.