Compare towns
Ripton vs Townshend vs Wardsboro 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).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Townshend | Wardsboro | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
820 |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Townshend 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% 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 | — | $1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Andover 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.