Compare towns
Ripton vs Barre vs Andover 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).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
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 | Barre | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
8,412Highest |
616 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1 14% 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% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Barre 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% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 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% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above 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 |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above 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 | — | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above 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 | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest 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% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.