Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Goshen
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 renters (40.5% rent).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Ripton | Castleton | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
508 |
4,453Highest |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Ripton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
42.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
| Ripton and Hancock 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Goshen 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 |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,240Highest 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Castleton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Goshen 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.