Compare towns
Ripton vs Bennington vs Stratton vs Andover
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 most homeowners (90.9%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Bennington | Stratton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
15,249Highest |
532 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Andover and Ripton 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% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Bennington 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% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Stratton 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 |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Bennington 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% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.