Compare towns
Hancock vs Jackson vs Ripton vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Jackson | Ripton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,695Highest |
508 |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Jackson 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$77,375±$8k 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$1,139±$43Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $868±$113Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,450Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.