Compare towns
Ripton vs Wells vs Dummerston 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).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% 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 | Wells | Dummerston | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,148 |
2,090Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above 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 | — | $1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,389±$364 13% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Dummerston 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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.