Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton vs Vernon vs Rochester
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).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Vernon | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
508 |
2,709Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% 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 |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
| Rochester 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% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hancock and Vernon 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% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester 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% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19 24% below VT |
— | $1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$929±$158Lowest 25% below VT |
| Vernon and Hancock 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,977 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Ripton 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Vernon School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.