Compare towns
Hancock vs Middlesex 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).
Middlesex has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
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 | Middlesex | Ripton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,407Highest |
508 |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.9% 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. |
55.3±6Highest 42% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Hancock 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% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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% |
21.1%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% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$75,750±$21k 6% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 44% below U.S. |
$208,100±$62k 37% 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. |
$1,406±$672Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $868±$113Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$3,459 11% 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% |
29.1%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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% |
5.8% 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% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 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. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | 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 |
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.