Compare towns
Hancock vs Poultney vs Sheldon 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).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
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 | Poultney | Sheldon | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,033 |
2,267Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,511 30% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.