Compare towns
Hancock vs Johnson vs Ripton vs Whiting
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Johnson | Ripton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
3,450Highest |
508 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting 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% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Johnson 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 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% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Johnson 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 |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Johnson 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 |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 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 | — | #57 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.