Compare towns
Hancock vs Panton vs Williston 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 kids (24.9% under 18).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Williston | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
690 |
10,144Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
42.7±3.8 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Williston 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$438,000±$40k 38% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Williston and Panton 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 |
$1,410±$130 14% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.