Compare towns
Braintree vs Hancock vs Ripton vs Randolph
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Braintree | Hancock | Ripton | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
435Lowest |
508 |
4,843Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
— | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | — | — | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.