Compare towns
Ripton vs Springfield vs Castleton 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 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 | Springfield | Castleton | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
4,453 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% 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 | — | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Castleton 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Castleton 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Ripton 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.