Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheldon vs Sandgate 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Sheldon | Sandgate | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
2,267Highest |
435Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sandgate 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sandgate 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% 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 | — | $1,286±$379Lowest 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | 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.