Compare towns
Hancock vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most people working from home (23.2%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Dover | Ripton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,466Highest |
508 |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,536±$11k 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $868±$113 30% below VT |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% 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 |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer 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 |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.