Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton vs Poultney 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 affordable homes ($188k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Poultney | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
508 |
1,033Highest |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% 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%±5.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Poultney 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% |
21.1%±6.6 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% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
42.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% 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 |
$196,600±$43k 38% 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±$19Highest 24% below VT |
— | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
— |
| Hancock and Poultney 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 |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$5,240Highest 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.