Compare towns
Chester vs Montgomery 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).
Montgomery has the most kids (15.5% under 18).
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 | Montgomery | Ripton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,047 |
508Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Montgomery and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Montgomery and Chester 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
— | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,326 14% 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% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%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 |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.