Compare towns
Hancock vs Jay vs Rupert 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 renters (40.5% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Jay | Rupert | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
471 |
676Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Rupert and Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Rupert 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Rupert 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$362,500±$63k 14% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
— | — | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — | 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.