Compare towns
Ripton vs Highgate vs Mendon 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).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Highgate | Mendon | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,113 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Mendon 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 | — | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Mendon 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer 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 |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Mendon 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.