Compare towns
Ripton vs Dorset vs Putney 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 highest household income ($113k).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Putney | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,092 |
2,622Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Putney 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%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton 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 39% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$102,500±$38k 26% 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 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% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 min 8% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dorset 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.