Compare towns
Ripton vs Strafford 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 most homeowners (90.9%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Strafford | Sheldon | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,372 |
2,267Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Strafford 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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$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 |
$7,149Highest 42% 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% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs 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 |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.