Compare towns
Ripton vs Dorset 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).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Andover has the most renters (17.2% rent).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Dorset | Andover | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,092Highest |
616 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Reading 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Dorset and Andover 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Andover 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% |
11.2%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% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | 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.