Compare towns
Ripton vs Grafton vs Plainfield 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).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Plainfield has the most kids (16.3% 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 | Grafton | Plainfield | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
666 |
1,314Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton 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% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| 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 25% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$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 | — | $1,288±$174 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Grafton 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 |
$4,843 4% below VT |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 min 4% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Athens Grafton School District | — | — |
| High school 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.