Compare towns
Springfield vs Andover vs Ripton vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Swanton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Andover | Ripton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
616 |
508Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Andover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$102,500±$38k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$382,900±$68k 21% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Andover and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 5% below VT |
$5,190Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,449Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Lowest 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 | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Ripton 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.