Compare towns
Hancock vs Panton vs Poultney 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 affordable homes ($188k median).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Panton | Poultney | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
690 |
1,033Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.6% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Panton 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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Panton and Ripton 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 |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Ripton 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton 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 | — | — | — | 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 |
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.