Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton vs Topsham vs Poultney
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 most expensive homes ($394k median).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Topsham | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
508 |
999 |
1,033Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% 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 |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below 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% |
16.8%±5 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% |
21.1%±6.6 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% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest 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 |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% 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 |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 24% below VT |
— | $908±$398 26% below VT |
$868±$113Lowest 30% 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 | $3,511 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% 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% |
23.2%±12.4 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% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Topsham 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 | 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 | 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.