Compare towns
Reading vs Andover vs Ripton vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Reading | Andover | Ripton | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699 |
616 |
508Lowest |
1,242Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Reading and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% 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 | $377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% 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 | $5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest 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 | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.