Compare towns
Ripton vs Hardwick vs Windham 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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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 | Hardwick | Windham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,965Highest |
594 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$92,297±$17kLowest 14% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% 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 | — | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Windham 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.