Compare towns
Hancock vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,522Highest |
508 |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% 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. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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 44% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $868±$113Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 13% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,915 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest 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% |
87.3% 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. |
1977Highest 3 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. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | 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.