Compare towns
Ripton vs Jay vs Walden 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).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Walden has the most kids (14.3% under 18).
Andover has the most renters (17.2% rent).
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 | Jay | Walden | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
471Lowest |
1,037Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Walden and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below 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 | — | — | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Walden 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Walden 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| 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.