Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Ripton vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Chester | Dover | Ripton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,466 |
508Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Dover and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% 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 | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% 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 | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest 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 | 7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dover 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.