Compare towns

Hancock vs Putney 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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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.

MeasureHancockPutneyRipton
People
Population
435Lowest
2,622Highest
508
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
37.2±5.2
14% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Hancock and Putney 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%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Hancock 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%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
Putney 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±$34kLowest
6% below VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$187,900±$11kLowest
41% below VT
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19Highest
24% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
—
Hancock and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,511Lowest
30% below VT
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
17% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Putney 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 — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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

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.