Compare towns
Ripton vs Mendon vs Sheldon 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).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Mendon | Sheldon | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,113 |
2,267Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% 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 | — | $1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Sheldon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school 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.