Compare towns
Ripton vs Brandon vs Middlesex 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 expensive homes ($394k median).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% 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 | Brandon | Middlesex | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,120Highest |
1,943 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Brandon 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% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brandon 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% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Andover 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% 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 | — | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Ripton 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% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Middlesex 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.