Compare towns
Ripton vs Andover vs Springfield 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).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Ripton | Andover | Springfield | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
616 |
9,084Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% 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 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 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+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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 | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% 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 | — | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,100±$331 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 | $4,915 about the VT average |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest 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 | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.