Compare towns
Hancock vs Middlebury vs Ripton vs Stratton
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).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Ripton | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
9,175Highest |
508 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.8±3.7 26% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Ripton and Hancock 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% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Hancock 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% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Middlebury and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.