Compare towns
Ripton vs Castleton vs Smithville vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Castleton | Smithville | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,525 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364Highest about the U.S. average |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
$5,190Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.