Compare towns
Hancock vs Castleton vs Ripton vs Poultney
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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Castleton | Ripton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
508 |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Ripton and Castleton 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Hancock 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
| Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,450 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Hancock 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.