Compare towns
Hancock vs Putney vs Underhill 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).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Putney | Underhill | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
2,622 |
3,141Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% 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 |
38.1±11.4 12% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Underhill 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Lowest 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Underhill 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Underhill and Ripton 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.