Compare towns
Hancock vs Athens vs Goshen vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Hancock | Athens | Goshen | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
431 |
142Lowest |
508Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | +25.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Goshen and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
— | — |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$5,240 4% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
— | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Ripton 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 |
| High school 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.