Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton vs Rochester 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 kids (17.2% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Goshen has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Rochester | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435 |
508 |
1,389Highest |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Ripton 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% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Rochester 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% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest 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% |
0.4%±0.6 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% 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 |
— | $929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
— |
| Hancock and Rochester 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,977 21% 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% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 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 |
27 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.