Compare towns
Hancock vs Stratton vs Orwell vs Ripton
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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Stratton | Orwell | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 435Lowest |
532 |
1,294Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
— |
| Stratton and Orwell 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.