Compare towns
Ripton vs Townshend vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most kids (12.8% 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 | Worcester | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,538Highest |
831 |
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±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% 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±$80 13% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Townshend 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9% 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% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 Our Story | 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.