Compare towns
Ripton vs Westminster vs Ira 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).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Westminster | Ira | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
2,999Highest |
381Lowest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Ira and Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Ripton 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ira 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% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 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 | — | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.