Compare towns

Hancock vs Berkshire 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 most affordable homes ($188k median).
Berkshire has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureHancockBerkshireRipton
People
Population
435Lowest
1,745Highest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-8.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.8±11.6
22% below VT
31.6±6.9Lowest
27% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
Ripton and Hancock 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%
27.2%±4.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Berkshire 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%
14.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Hancock 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%
22%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34k
6% below VT
$71,406±$21kLowest
12% 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
$244,600±$26k
23% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19Lowest
24% below VT
$1,525±$267Highest
24% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
$3,545
30% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
57.4%±52.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Berkshire and Ripton 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%
14.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
77.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
32 minHighest
37% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.