Compare towns

Hancock vs Ripton vs Topsham

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 most expensive homes ($394k median).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).

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.

MeasureHancockRiptonTopsham
People
Population
435Lowest
508
999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
33.8±11.6Lowest
22% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
50.1±5.9Highest
16% above VT
Topsham 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%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Topsham 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%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±4.8
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.7%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34k
6% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$72,308±$60kLowest
11% 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
$222,900±$56k
30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19Highest
24% below VT
—
$908±$398Lowest
26% below VT
Hancock and Topsham 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
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,006
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
91.9%±28.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Topsham 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%
18.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
35 minHighest
49% above VT
Work from home
11.7%±5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.2%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Topsham 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 Waits River Union High District #36
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.