Compare towns
Ripton vs Andover vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
616 |
831Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%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 |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Worcester 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%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.