Compare towns
Hancock vs Athens vs Orleans 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%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
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 | Orleans | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
431Lowest |
809Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Athens 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% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% 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±$11k 41% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% 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 | $3,511 30% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below 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% |
27.3%±17.2 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 Our Story | 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.