Compare towns
Hancock vs Ripton vs Windham vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Windham | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
508 |
1,432Highest |
1,033 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-33.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 13% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
28.2±4.5Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$76,477±$17k 5% below U.S. |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $187,900±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$315,600±$74k 5% below U.S. |
$196,600±$43k 41% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Highest 34% below U.S. |
— | $850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$868±$113 39% below U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,450 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.2%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Windham 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.