Compare towns
Ripton vs Middlesex vs Halifax 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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Middlesex | Halifax | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,943Highest |
847 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% 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 | — | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Halifax 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Andover 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Halifax School District | — |
| 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.